A man from the Netherlands has been jailed after attempting to smuggle cocaine through the Channel Tunnel ... by strapping it to his back.

The drugs had an estimated street value of around £350,000.

He was travelling with a woman in a Dutch-registered hire car on April 1 when they were stopped by border agency officials in Coquelles.

Wesley Versteeg and Sarina Wijsman said they were coming to the UK to look at property in the Maidstone area.

The seven kilos of cocaine were found wrapped in six packages and strapped to Versteeg's back.

Versteeg pleaded guilty to drug smuggling on April 2 at Folkestone Magistrates Court while Wijsman was found guilty by a jury at Canterbury Crown Court on September 30 after a three day trial.

Both were sentenced there on Tuesday, Versteeg received eight years and Wijsman 12 years in prison.

Malcolm Bragg, Assistant Director of Criminal and Financial Investigations for the UK Border Agency, said: "The UK Border Agency is at the forefront of the fight to stop drugs, weapons and illegal immigrants entering the UK and our officers are on constant alert to keep them out of the country.

"This case demonstrates to anyone we find smuggling drugs that they will be taken to court and will face a lengthy jail term."