Eurostar trains were brought to a standstill - when a man just released from prison fell asleep on the tracks.

Hundreds of passengers and three trains were delayed yesterday - costing Eurostar nearly £25,000.

Mark Simmons, 33, was trying to walk from Maidstone to Folkestone when he took a nap just feet from the live rails.

This morning, Maidstone magistrates sent homeless Simmons back to jail for two months after he admitted trespassing.

Shaven-headed Simmons said he was looking for somewhere to stay because he had been sleeping rough after being released from prison six days earlier.

He began walking down the motorway towards Folkstone until police officers told him to move on.

So he chose a "misguided" alternative route – climbing the fence at the Channel Tunnel rail link bridge in Lenham.

Railway workers spent 50 minutes searching for Simmons after British Transport Police received reports of a man on the tracks at 11.30am.

Marian Boyd, prosecuting, said: "Simmons was found sleeping 1.5m from the live rails. The approved safety distance for workers is 2.75m.

"He put not only his own safety but the safety of those searching for him and those on board the train at risk."

Catherine Bond, defending, said: "This is a sad story. Mr Simmons was released from HPM Lincoln on May 22 but didn’t have anywhere to go.

"He sincerely regrets his actions and will not do it again."

Jailing him for 60 days, magistrate Tom Stevens told Simmons: "Your actions caused potential danger to others and caused severe disruption. We feel there is no other way to deal with you than send you to prison."