Passengers on the Eurostar faced delays of nearly 14 hours after suspected migrants trespassed on the line in the Calais area last night.

All traffic through the Channel Tunnel was temporarily suspended while police carried out checks on the tracks.

One Eurostar train was forced to remain in Calais, and all travellers were escorted off the train and told to wait in the station.

Former KM journalist Ian West, from near Hythe, was returning home from France when the train he was on stopped.

He explains: “I was due to get the train at 9.13pm French time. It left 15 minutes late because they said there was a fault.

“We got just outside the tunnel and were told migrants were trying to get on the train. We were told to listen out for sounds on the roof.”

The passengers, which included young children and babies, were told the police had been called and they arrived about an hour later.

Two hours later, they were told it still wasn’t safe, and had to remain on the carriage.

Mr West, who now works for the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, said the conditions on the train became increasingly uncomfortable.

He said it was also “unsettling” knowing the police had been called.

“We were concerned about the young children on board because the air conditioning and lights went and it was very hot,” adds Mr West. “We couldn’t open the doors.

“At first the lights were dim, but then went out all together so it was completely dark. People struggled to use the toilet facilities.”

He said that it was made more difficult as the power had gone so there was no communication from staff.

Eventually the train started moving and returned to Calais, and the passengers exited the train.

At 5am today, they were told a train was coming from London that would arrive at 8am.

Mr West arrived at Ashford International at 10.20am - after a journey of nearly 14 hours.

He adds: “Everyone is feeling very tired.”

As well as Mr West’s train, three others were delayed and two on the London to Paris route returned to their origin destination.

A spokesman for Eurostar said: “Our priority is to look after customers affected by the disruption, and make sure that any passengers who were unable to travel yesterday are re-accommodated on to trains today.

“All passengers who were affected yesterday evening are able to exchange their ticket using Eurostar.com.”

The company says trains from St Pancras, Ebbsfleet and Ashford have now returned to normal.