Eurotunnel offer behind the scenes tours this weekend By Jo Tweedy Finding the daylight of France or England as quickly as possible is the usual aim of tourists using the Channel Tunnel. However, this weekend, groups of visitors can linger a little longer under the Channel as Eurotunnel is opening the Folkstone end of the tunnel to the public for the first time. Claustrophobics need not apply: The 90-minute tours this weekend will let visitors walk in the tunnel On Saturday and Sunday, the company will run guided coach tours of the world's longest undersea tunnel. Those signed up will get to access areas normally reserved just for staff including a visit to the service tunnel. There's also a chance to meet the staff who operate the tunnel, which runs 400 journeys a day - and find out exactly how the high-speed shuttles are loaded with passengers. Inside the service tunnel: Eurotunnel will open up areas not normally accessible to the general public for the tours Keen transport enthusiasts who haven't already booked their ticket will have to wait until next year though, the tours are completely sold out. The visits are part of European Heritage Days, an initiative that began in France in 1984 in a bid to let the general public find out more about mouments, sites and buildings not normally accessible. Folkestone first: Although Eurotunnel has run previous tours in France, this will be the first on the English side of the operation In a release on its website, Eurotunnel said the tours were an acknowledgement that the tunnel was part of 'the cultural and tourist heritage of the South East of England.' Meet and greet: Eurotunnel staff will be on hand to chat with visitors this weekend Other stops on the 90-minute tour will include check-in, the platforms and the control centre. The Channel Tunnel has carried 300million passengers since it opened in 1994 to Europe-wide fanfare. Its undersea tunnel stretches for some 25 miles and links Folkstone with the town of Coquelles in France's Pas-de-Calais region.