A man has been charged with people smuggling after a boy was found in a life-threatening condition inside a suitcase.

The Vietnamese boy, believed to be 16, was inside the baggage in the boot of a car that had arrived at the Port of Dover from France.

He was taken to hospital following the discovery by UK Border Force officials at about 8.30pm on Wednesday.

His condition has since improved after initially being described as life-threatening.

The boy had been transported in a silver Skoda Octavia stopped at the inbound search area of the port, for vehicles arriving in the UK.

Kent Police are investigating the incident and the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised a charge against Andrei Iancu, 20, from Buzau in Romania.

He is accused of attempting to smuggle a person into the UK, thereby facilitating the commission of a breach of immigration law.

Iancu was placed in custody and was due to appear before Medway magistrates today.