Drivers on the London-bound A2 near Bridge called police this morning after seeing a group of men, believed to be immigrants, walking beside the carriageway.

They were first spotted near the Bridge slip road at around 8.20am, prompting several 999 calls.

One who made a call was University of Kent publishing officer Patricia King who said: "They were making no attempt to hide and I guess they wanted to be picked up by the authorities.

"The police control room operator told me they had received several calls and officers were on their way."

Police spokesman Jon Green said: "We found three suspected migrants near Patrixbourne and they will be taken to the Immigration Centre at Dover."