Two migrant stowaways were discovered in a British Grand Prix paddock after clambering on board a truck belonging to a Ferrari F1 team supplier during its journey across the English Channel.

The pair were discovered as the truck was unloaded at Silverstone yesterday and later handed over to police.

They were believed to have boarded near the French port of Calais, according to a team spokeswoman.

Humanitarian organisations estimate that several hundreds of migrants are still living in the Calais area, all hoping to find a way to get to Britain. More than 20 suspected illegal immigrants were detained by the Border Force, which intercepted a small boat crossing the Channel on Saturday.

Another group of suspected migrants was found in the Kingsdown area of Kent.

In the first incident, the coastal patrol vessel Speedwell and Border Force cutter Seeker were scrambled and 11 men on board a rigid-hulled inflatable boat were detained and brought to Dover, Kent.

This weekend's grand prix is a sellout, with a record crowd of more than 140,000 expected on Sunday with Britain's five- times world champion Lewis Hamilton leading the championship for Mercedes.

The British Grand Prix is the sport’s oldest race and it had been under threat following a two-year saga, sparked by Silverstone triggering a release clause in its contract.