A FAMILY who returned home from a holiday in Spain to find a migrant hiding in their roof box have reportedly been hit with a fine.

Toby and Rhiannon Reynolds are said to have driven hundreds of miles with the stowaway riding on the roof of their car.

During the long journey, the couple heard tapping noises but they thought it was bottles of wine rattling around, according to the BBC.

It was only when they arrived home in Wadhurst that they discovered a man from Sudan had joined them for the trip.

The couple were shocked when they found the man, identified only as Isa and "loudly" called the police from inside the car.

Mrs Reynolds told the broadcaster: "We had no idea who was in there and what his intentions were, you know, if he was armed.

"It was terrifying."

They later discovered that they had lost thousands of pounds worth of clothes and toiletries that were originally in the roof box.

On top of this, the couple were hit with a £200 fine from the Home Office for the offence of "bringing a clandestine person" into the country.

The Home Office have defended the decision, saying information is available online for those travelling in and out of Europe by road.

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "We provide guidance to anyone travelling across the Channel on steps they need to take to secure their vehicle to prevent clandestine entrants.

"It is right that people are fined if they do not follow these preventative measures."

The BBC have not reported what happened to Isa after his arrival in East Sussex.