by political editor Paul Francis

Eurotunnel has warned a shortage of border control staff threatens to cause major delays for passengers over the summer.

Managers say they fear the delays that have blighted travellers arriving at UK airports could spread to rail terminals.

The company says it is concerned the government has yet to recognise how the problems could spread.

It has already reduced the number of bookings available in order to retain space on shuttle trains needed for passengers who are held up at Calais and miss their reservation.

A spokesman said: "Our concern is that border delays are not just something that happens at airports, they happen at the Channel Tunnel and other ports of entry.

"If resources are made available to stop delays at airports, they should be made available for ports where people are coming across the Channel."

Eurotunnel says that when delays are bad, trains are often run half-empty.
The spokesman added: "We end up with trains that are half empty, which means the following trains are over-subscribed. That is why we are withdrawing some tickets from sale."

The Channel Tunnel from above

In evidence to the Home Affairs select committee, the company says it fears a repeat of the long delays suffered by passengers in January, when border control bottlenecks led to four-hour long queues developing in France.

"We are worried that the government has spoken of the Olympics as being the peak period but the reality for us is that it is a 100-day period
for us that culminates at the end of August and beginning of September. They have missed the point completely.

"You are trying to showcase the UK via the Olympics but then you cannot deal with them quickly enough at the border controls."

A Border Force spokesman said: "Border Force work closely with Eurotunnel and the French authorities and have jointly agreed plans to cope with busy periods including during the Olympic Games."