TUNNEL services through the Channel Tunnel were suspended today following a "serious incident" on the French side of the tunnel.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said it had sent appliances to deal with the incident, which was reported at 2.57pm.

"We have a number of appliances there. It is a serious incident," a spokeswoman said.

She was unable to confirm reports that a fire had broken out in the tunnel.

A spokesman for French police in Arras said: "We can confirm that there is an incident in the tunnel. It is a fire."

The fire is thought to have begun on a lorry which overturned, and around 30 people, mostly lorry drivers, were evacuated.

A spokeswoman for Eurotunnel said: "All the train drivers are safe. No-one is at risk, no customers are at risk."

A spokeswoman for the Kent Air Ambulance Trust said: "We are currently on standby for an incident in the Channel Tunnel."

She was unable to give any further details.

The tunnel was severely damaged in a major fire on a shuttle train carrying lorries in 1996.

That fire burned for several hours, wrecking the concrete lining and facilities over around half mile of tunnel and causing £200 million worth of damage.

Evacuated

But all the staff and passengers were evacuated safely.

Eurotunnel said services had been suspended following an incident 11km from the French entrance to the tunnel.

"A fire alarm sounded in the north running tunnel indicating a possible fire at around 2.55pm UK time.

"The French fire brigade were on site to deal with a fire on a freight shuttle travelling from Folkestone to Calais.

"The shuttle was evacuated and 32 people taken into the service tunnel.

"A train is now on its way from France to pick up the people from the service tunnel and take them back to France.

"Eurotunnel has suspended services in both directions while emergency services deal with the incident.

"As a result of the suspension, it is possible that Kent Police may have to implement Operation Stack.

"Operation Stack is where police use sections of the M20 to queue lorries when there are delays to continental traffic.

"People should delay or vary their travel arrangements and delay journeys in the area if possible."