Charge over WWI mortar at tunnel

The Channel Tunnel was closed to all services for three hours

A 54-year-old man has been charged under the Firearms Act after a World War I mortar bomb was found in a car at the Channel Tunnel.

The tunnel was closed and Folkestone's terminal evacuated after the device was found during a security check on a car heading for France on Friday.

Stephen Hart, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, was charged on Saturday with possessing explosives without authority.

He was bailed until 10 February to appear before Folkestone Magistrates.

Services cancelled

Kent Police said the mortar was detonated by Army bomb disposal experts in a controlled explosion.

The tunnel was closed between 1700 GMT and 2015 GMT.

The M20 slip roads to the terminal were closed, and traffic was diverted towards Dover, causing further delays.

A spokesman for Eurostar rail link said the tunnel closure caused delays and cancellation of its services, but they returned to normal on Saturday.