Nine men and two women have been handed over to immigration officials after they were found at a lorry park.

Police were seen scanning fields around the Waterbrook Truckstop on Waterbrook Avenue yesterday, with some roads closed off nearby.

A police spokeswoman said: "Police were called to Waterbrook Avenue, Ashford at 11.14am on Saturday, March 2, following a report that a number of people were seen at a lorry park.

"Officers attended and 11 people were handed over to the care of Home Office Immigration Enforcement."

A Home Office spokesman said: "Kent Police attended an incident in Waterbrook Avenue, Ashford on Saturday, March 2.

"Nine men and two women who presented themselves as Eritrean were referred to the Home Office.

"All cases will be progressed in line with the UK immigration rules."

The HGV stop is at the centre of expansion plans which will see it double in size ahead of Brexit.

A 13.5-mile stretch of the M20 between Ashford and Maidstone has seen extensive roadworks in place since July - part of the Operation Brock holding area for lorries waiting to get into Dover.