A piece of debris that experts consider could be from missing flight MH370 has reached Paris from the French island where it was found on Wednesday.

The object is believed to be part of a wing and was flown to the French capital from Reunion in the Indian Ocean. It will be transported to a defence ministry laboratory in Toulouse for analysis.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared in March 2014. Since then, an Australian-led search effort has been searching the vast area of the southern Indian Ocean about 4,000km (2,500 miles) to the east of Reunion, a French overseas department to the east of Madagascar.

Experts believe that the two-metre (6ft) object could be a moveable piece of a Boeing 777's wing, called a flaperon.

A team from Malaysia Airlines has already reached Toulouse and French officials say examination of the part will begin on Wednesday. The military laboratory is likely to attest the serial number of the object and conduct additional tests. Remains of a suitcase found on the same beach will also be tested.

Authorities believe the plane changed course for reasons unknown - and went down in the southern Indian Ocean. Its probable last location was based on "pings" sent from the plane that were perceived by satellite.

But, no physical evidence has been found and in January Malaysian authorities announced that all on board were assumed dead.