A report says Eurostar, the company that runs train services between France and Great Britain via the Channel Tunnel, was not well enough prepared for the winter.

The independent review blamed Eurostar for the chaos which hit the train service over the Christmas period. Trains broke down in the tunnel due to electrical problems caused by the severe cold, and hundreds of passengers were stranded for hours.

The company is also criticised for the failure of evacuation procedures and for communication problems. Eurostar says it will invest 34 million euros in improving the resilience of trains during freezing conditions.