Prime minister David Cameron was forced to ditch the train at Manningtree amid fears he would be late for his keynote speech in Ipswich today.

Mr Cameron was a few minutes late for a speech at the University Campus Suffolk Waterfront Building, in which he set out a series of new measures designed to make it tougher for immigrants to claim benefits and use public services like the NHS.

He warned those coming to Britain that they cannot expect 'something for nothing'.

Mr Cameron said he had to get off at Manningtree because it was thought the trains would be stacked up at the station.

The prime minister's train from London was stopping at Ipswich because of engineering work further down the line in Needham Market.

Mr Cameron said: 'It was okay. We hopped in the car and were here in no time at all. I didn't want to let people down or keep people waiting.'

In the speech to a packed hall, he said: 'It's great to be here in Ipswich at University Campus Suffolk. This is an important time for this young and growing university. With pioneering research and business start-up incubators.

'UCS is playing an important role in the economic development of the region. And with some 500 students from 70 different countries of origin outside the EU. It is also a natural place to talk about something I see as a vital part of our economic strategy, which is immigration.'

A Greater Anglia spokesman said he did not know why the prime minister's people had decided they would get off the train, because it had arrived at Ipswich on time.