A family of suspected illegal immigrants have been found in the back of a lorry delivering mattresses to the University of Kent this afternoon.

The group of five - three adults and two children - are thought to have stowed across the Channel in the Portugese-registered truck.

They were discovered when the lorry was opened up by workers on the Canterbury campus in Giles Lane.

Painter and decorator John Gamblen, from Folkestone, was one of the workmen who discovered the family in the back of the lorry.

"We were pretty startled to be honest. You see it all on the news but it brings it home to you that it's right on our doorstep."

Mr Gamblen said the family looked fairly well despite their journey.

"We knew something was awry when we saw clothes and blankets on top of the mattresses," said Mr Gamblen.

"The little girl couldn't have been more than three or four, the boy a bit older, maybe seven.

"They seemed very calm. I think they were just pleased to be over here. They all went and sat in the back of the police car and got out one by one to be searched."

The lorry driver was less composed, said Mr Gamblen.

"He was going ballistic to someone on the phone. It's safe to say he was quite angry."

Police spokesman Scarlet Jones said: "Police officers are in the process of detaining five suspected illegal immigrants found in the back of a lorry near Giles Lane, Canterbury, following a report at 2.22pm today.

"All are expected to be transferred to Home Office immigration enforcement, which is responsible for immigration matters."