ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Hundreds of Eurostar passengers have been evacuated from a London-bound train in sweltering heat following a power failure.

Passengers were left stranded by the side of the tracks after the overhead power supply failed on the line in Belgium.

They were forced to wait by the side of the tracks for up to two hours for a rescue train to arrive and take them to safety.

Around 700 passengers were on the 10.56 Brussels - London service when the power failed at around 11am, shortly after the train left the Belgian capital.

Comedian Katy Brand was among those trapped.

She wrote on Twitter: "I am one of hundreds of people on the fire-struck 10.56 train Brussels to London.

"We are being held in a tunnel. Babies are ill, people are fainting.

"We were promised a rescue train. It’s been two hours. Where is it? This is very unsafe. Legal action ahead."

Fellow passenger Paul De Grauwe also wrote that they were "stuck somewhere near Tubize" with no air con or electricity.

"Temperature rising," he said on Twitter. "Conclusion: avoid Eurostar when its very hot."

Photos and footage showed passengers making their way into a nearby tunnel to shelter from the heat.

Steven Pemberton, who was also waiting by the tracks said it was, “at least 10 degrees cooler in the tunnel”.

Melissa Houghton also posted updates on social media saying that the passengers had been stuck for close to three hours in 40 degree heat.

Eurostar said they had been forced to cancel four trains today due to the power outage.

A spokesman from Eurostar said: "One of our trains was held due to an issue with the power supply.

"Due to the high temperatures today, the doors were opened to allow passengers into the shade outside while they waited for another train to collect them and take them back to Brussels.

"We apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused by the disruption to their journey, and those on board will be contacted with details of how to claim compensation."