A SUDANESE boy was spotted clinging to the bottom of a coach as it drove along the M4.

The 15-year-old is suspected of having jumped onto the coach in France. 

A spokeswoman for Wiltshire Police said officers were called at 8.55pm on Monday to reports of a man seen underneath the vehicle on the westbound carriageway of the M4 between junctions 15 and 16.

The boy, believed to be from Sudan, was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences. He remains in custody at Gablecross police station.

Nicola Wood of campaign group Swindon City of Sanctuary, said: "The desperation a person must feel to risk their life by clinging to the underside of a bus in order to find a safe place to be is unimaginable. The trauma this young 15 year old boy must have faced to put his life at risk just highlights how our global community is becoming more hostile to those fleeing from war and persecution.

"There should be better processes in place especially for unaccompanied minors fleeing for their lives from their home countries." 

Nan Bains of charity Swindon Harbour Project said those her organisation had worked with who had undertaken similar journeys described their experiences as horrendous: "Obviously, it's very frightening."