Eurostar texts passengers warning them not to bring bombs on board

Eurostarhas warned passengers not to bring "bombs, shells or weapons" back from French battlefields after seeing a rise in World War One tourists. 

The cross-Channel rail company has seen a increase in the number of travelers making trips to France to remember those who lost their lives since the Centenary commemorations began in 2014. 

But the historical interest has also seen people trying to bring memorabilia home with them, leading to warnings that even items purchased in gift shops can lead to delays.  

In a message, sent to passengers travelling this weekend, Eurostar said: "Please remember that you can't bring any real or replica bombs, shells (complete or partial) or weapons on board, even if you bought them from a gift shop. 

"If you bring them with you, they'll be confiscated at security and may result in the need to evacuate the station."

It comes after  the Gare Du Nord,  Europe’s busiest train station, was a evacuated in August as a Eurostar passenger had a "military relic" in their luggage which had to be disposed of with a controlled explosion.

It followed a 2016 incident in Paris when a replica bomb was found and incidents on the same day in 2015 in the French capital and Lille when artillery shells were discovered. 

A spokesman for the rail company said that it was "prime time" for people to be travelling to the battlefields in France and as well as the text messages they had a list of prohibited items on their website, signs at stations and staff on hand to advise people on what they could carry. 

The spokesman said: "Eurostar takes the safety and security of its passengers very seriously and operates with the strictest security regime of any train operator.

 "We would therefore suggest, that all our customers read through our conditions of carriage prior to travel."

Artillery shells, which can be found at flea markets across France, can fetch between £45 and £85 online.