New Year's cancelled for Eurostar revellers

NEW Year plans were thrown into turmoil yesterday after a flooded tunnel brought the Eurostar to a halt, leaving thousands of holiday travellers stranded.

- Berny Torre

The cross-Channel rail company said it was "extremely sorry" about the chaos at London's St Pancras station after "unprecedented" levels of water poured on to tracks beneath the Thames.

The flooding is believed to have been caused by a burst pipe feeding the tunnel's fire safety system.

Thousands passengers of were left stranded after all Eurostar services had to be cancelled.

One disgruntled traveller said she had seen "lots of people crying" at packed rail terminal after the near the flooding Ebbsfleet, Kent.

Emotional travellers sat on suitcases as people could be heard frantically trying to find alternative routes.

Two New York newlyweds who planned to spend last night at Disneyland Paris were among those hit. Nicole Carrera, 29, and 31-year-old husband Christopher were forced to rebook their Eurostar to Paris yesterday to 2.30pm today.