A £20m fire protection system has been installed inside the Channel Tunnel.

Eurotunnel developed the water mist system following a major fire on a freight train a few miles from the French coast in September 2008.

channel tunnel fire protection
The sprinklers, which starve fires of oxygen and prevent them from spreading, have been installed in one safe area, with three more to follow.

Chairman of Eurotunnel, Jacques Gounon, said they were customised specifically for a working railway tunnel.

Work to build three other safe fire extinguishing areas will be completed by the end of the year.