A suspected illegal immigrant found under a school bus at a Suffolk primary school following a trip to France was a Sudanese minor, the Home Office has confirmed.
Police were called to Chelmondiston Primary School at 10.50am today to reports that a male had been discovered “underneath a bus”.
It is understood a coach containing pupils from Chelmondiston and Holbrook primary schools had been heavily delayed at Calais while returning from a three-day trip to France.
A Home Office spokesman said: “Immigration Enforcement was contacted by Suffolk Police (on Tuesday, December 12) 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.”
Chelmondiston Primary School is run by the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Multi Academy Trust.
John Howard, spokesman for the trust, 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 school’s headteacher declined to comment.
It is believed pupils from Holbrook Primary School were also on the trip. When contacted today, the school’s headteacher said it was “not appropriate” to provide a comment.
It is not known how many pupils in total were on the trip, or from which year groups.
A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said: “We were called today at 10.50am following reports that a male was found underneath a bus in Chelmondiston.
“The male has been 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.”
Hundreds of refugees and migrants are believed to be in Calais and the surrounding area, a year after the refugee camp there was razed.
France’s northern port continues to attract those hoping to start a new life in the UK.
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