Immigration officers have swarmed the forecourt of a car wash and quizzed a number of employees.

UK Immigration Enforcement raided Parkwood Hand Car Wash next to the BP garage on Sutton Road, Maidstone.

The Home Office confirmed that one Albanian man was arrested and a number of employees questioned following the visit at 11.20am on Friday.

Members of staff from the car wash were seen running from the scene with a number being detained.

Resident Geoff Crittenden said: "Three vans blocked off the entrances to the car wash and officers swarmed the forecourt. Workers were running all over the place to try and escape."

A Home Office spokesman said: "Acting on intelligence received, officers visited Parkwood Hand Car Wash. Staff were questioned to find out whether they had the right to live and work in the UK.

"Checks revealed that a 23-year-old man from Albania found working there had entered the UK illegally.

"He was arrested and placed in immigration detention pending his removal from the UK."

The business will be fined £20,000 unless they can prove that appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out — such as seeing a passport or Home Office document.

Richard Lederle, from Home Office Immigration Enforcement, said: "We will not tolerate illegal working and our officers carry out regular operations across Kent to tackle abuse of the system.

"The message is clear. Although we are happy to assist businesses and advise them on what checks need to be carried out on staff, employers who flout the rules will be punished and could face a heavy penalty."

Kent Police confirmed its officers did not attend the premises.

It came on the same day 12 suspected illegal immigrants were detained by police in Dover.