A Sudanese migrant was found hidden under a school coach carrying 40 pupils as it returned from a trip to Paris.
The man, who claimed he was a child, was believed to have climbed on the underside of the coach as it passed through Calais and was not found during Customs checks.
He stayed under the coach when it boarded a ferry and then as it was driven 140 miles from Dover to Chelmondiston Church of England Primary School in Ipswich.
He was only discovered at 10.50am on Tuesday when the coach stopped to drop off Year Six pupils at the school.
He was understood to be suffering from mild hypothermia and taken for a check-up at Ipswich Hospital but later released into the custody of immigration officers.
The man, who claimed to be a Sudanese child, was found under a school bus returning from France – he was discovered when the coach arrived at Chelmondiston CofE Primary School
Pupils had been on a trip to Paris where they visited the Eiffel Tower, a Christmas market and war graves.
It is thought the coach, which was also carrying 11-year-old pupils from nearby Holbrook Primary School, had been heavily delayed in the Calais area.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘Immigration Enforcement was contacted by Suffolk Police on Tuesday after police officers attended an incident in Chelmondiston.
‘A male, who presented himself as a Sudanese minor, was taken to hospital as a precaution, but has now been passed into the care of social services to be age assessed.
‘His case will be progressed in line with the immigration rules.’
John Howard, spokesman for the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Multi Academy Trust which runs Chelmondiston Church of England Primary School, said: ‘The bus had brought pupils safely back from a residential school trip to France.
‘We are glad that the children are all safe and well and the school is co-operating with the police.’
The migrant was found hidden under a school coach carrying 40 pupils as it returned to Chelmondiston Church of England Primary School (pictured)
Holbrook Primary School headteacher Anne Hookway said it was ‘not appropriate’ to comment.
A Suffolk Police spokesman said: ‘We were called today at 10.50am on Tuesday following reports that a male was found underneath a bus in Chelmondiston.
‘The male was taken to hospital via ambulance for medical assessment and police are continuing enquiries, including liaison with immigration enforcement officials as he is believed to be an illegal immigrant.’
In October last year, the squalid Jungle camp at Calais was razed and 8,000 people were relocated across France.
But hundreds have since returned to the area.