Spain says most of the thousands of migrants who entered its North African enclave of Ceuta this week have returned to Morocco.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the situation there was now much calmer, and that the authorities were working to help minors and other vulnerable people still in the territory.

During the week, about 8,000 people entered Ceuta from Morocco. The minister said 6,500 had now been sent back.

The influx began after Morocco appeared to loosen border controls, in what Spain saw as a retaliation for its hosting the independence leader from Western Sahara, a disputed territory claimed by Morocco and the Saharawi people seeking self-determination.