Stephanie BrooksA coach driver returning passengers to Norwich after a day trip in Belgium got a surprise when border officials uncovered a stowaway hiding in the vehicle's engine compartment and a stash of illegal tobacco.Stephanie Brooks

A coach driver returning passengers to Norwich after a day trip in Belgium got a surprise when border officials uncovered a stowaway hiding in the engine compartment and a stash of illegal tobacco.

The coach, operated by Chenery Travel, based in Dickleburgh, near Diss, was pulled over on Tuesday during routine checks by the UK Border Agency at the Eurotunnel entrance in Coquelles, France.

The stowaway, who said he was Sudanese, was placed in the hands of the French authorities.

Checks also found an illegal amount of tobacco in wine boxes which had been loaded on to the coach by a small group of passengers.

The contraband was confiscated before the coach entered the tunnel and the passengers in question - two men and a woman - were left at Folkestone after the driver refused to let them back on to the bus, according to the company.

The trip to De Panne in Belgium, which Chenery Travel puts on twice a month, left Norwich at 5am on Tuesday and was due to arrive back in the city at 10.30pm, but ended up being delayed until 1.30am yesterday.

The 48 passengers were treated to stops in Adinkerke, known for its large quantity of tobacconists, and shopping centre Euro City in Calais.

Peter Croxson, transport manager at Chenery Travel, said stowaways had tried to smuggle their way on to the company's coaches before but it happened rarely.

"We have had it before, but not this year. Normally we get them out before the coach reaches customs. It's not a common thing. The driver does checks," he said.

He added that no one knew the man was hiding on the coach and the driver was unaware of the illegal amount of tobacco.

"Passengers had loaded it on to the coach in crates of wine. The driver didn't load them on, so he didn't feel the weight, otherwise he would have noticed," said Mr Croxson.

"We issue notices to the passengers telling them what they can and cannot bring back. We cover everything as best we can, but I don't think you're going to stop it completely. Not while the taxes are higher over here."

A spokesman from the UK Border Agency said: "On June 8, the UK Border Agency undertook checks in Coquelles in France. They examined a coach operated by Chenery Travel.

"In the engine compartment they found a man hiding. He said he was Sudanese and was handed over to the French authorities.

"There was also a quantity of tobacco taken away."