Britain's deputy prime minister John Prescott is in hospital undergoing tests for a suspected chest infection, his office said today.
Prescott (69), was admitted on Saturday. His condition is not thought to be life-threatening.
Reports say he was taken ill during a train journey between his Hull constituency and London. His office was unable to issue an update on his condition, but said in a statement: "He is undergoing tests as a result of a suspected chest infection."
It declined to name the hospital in which he was being treated.
Mr Prescott last week returned from an official visit to the east coast of the U.S. and the Caribbean, where he visited Jamaica and Barbados.
It is the second time in six months that Prescott has been admitted to hospital, having spent part of Christmas Day on a ward last year after being diagnosed with a kidney stone. He also suffers from type 2 diabetes.
Mr Prescott, who has been deputy prime minister for 10 years, is to stand down at the same time as prime minister Tony Blair on June 27th.