Fuel injector

A fuel injector comprising a nozzle body (10) having a first bore (11) defining first and second seatings (13a, 13b), an outer valve needle (12) being slidable within the first bore (11) and engageable with the first seating (13a) to control fuel flow from a first outlet opening (14). The outer valve needle (12) is provided with a second bore (17) within which an inner valve needle (18) is slidable, the inner valve needle (18) being engageable with the second seating (13b) to control fuel delivery through a second outlet opening (26). the inner valve needle (18) comprising a first region (22) which is engageable with a surface (20) defined by the second bore (17) such that movement of the outer valve needle (12) away from the first seating (13a) beyond a predetermined amount is transmitted to the inner valve needle (18) when the surface (20) engages the first region (22), the inner valve needle (18) further comprising a second region (34) located downstream of the first region (22), the second region (34) being of substantially frusto-conical form such that stresses within the second region (34) of the inner valve needle (18) are minimised upon engagement between the surface (20) of the outer valve needle (12) and the first region (22) of the inner valve needle (18).