Sick Prescott rushed to hospital

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The Deputy Prime Minister was taken by his Special Branch protection officers from King's Cross station in London to nearby University College Hospital for tests.

Mr Prescott, who was 69 on Thursday, returned last week from a taxpayer-funded tour of the US and the Caribbean, where he visited Barbados and Jamaica.

His office released a statement saying: "The DPM was taken ill. He has been admitted to hospital. He is undergoing tests as a result of a suspected chest infection."

His spokesman refused to say whether the suspected virus was connected to his recent punishing schedule of overseas visits.

Mr Prescott suffers from type 2 diabetes, which he treats with medication, and last year was hospitalised after being diagnosed with a kidney stone.

The British Transport Police confirmed that Mr Prescott, who will be retiring from office at the same time as Tony Blair on June 27, was taken ill during his journey on the GNER rail service.

A spokeswoman said he was greeted at King's Cross by bodyguards who drove him from the station in his official Jaguar.

A University College London Hospital spokesperson said: "We are not giving any information out about the incident at present."