ALTERNATIVELY-fuelled vehicles could soon to be allowed through the Channel Tunnel for the first time if a bid by Eurotunnel proves successful. Eurotunnel is making proposals to the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority to try to lift the restrictions which prevent any vehicle fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas from using the tunnel.

A spokesman for Eurotunnel said: 'When the Channel Tunnel opened in 1994 LPG and CNG were very rare as fuel for vehicles, and it was decided they posed too much of a fire risk. There has, in particular during the last 12 months, been a dramatic increase in the use of alternative fuels and Eurotunnel has reviewed its policy. We have now presented the safety authority with new proposals, which if approved would allow LPG and CNG-fuelled vehicles through the tunnel.'

Shell, anticipating a change in the regulations, recently opened one of its first LPG sites near the tunnel at Dover South Services.