Two men have been jailed for a total of 31 years after importing heroin worth around £3m into Kent disguised as bacon.

Philip Tasker, 43, and 41-year-old Darren Hunter, both from Southport, were jailed at Canterbury Crown Court following an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs.

Tasker, of Saunders Street, was stopped at Dover Docks on October 17 last year where 63kg of the drug was found in the van he was driving.

But he denied being knowingly concerned with the importation of a controlled drug.

Hunter, of Kew Road, was found to have masterminded Tasker's trip to Belgium to smuggle the heroin back to the UK - but he admitted the charges Tasker denied.

Malcolm Bragg, assistant director of criminal investigation, said: "This attempt to disguise heroin as a load of bacon didn't fool detection officers and investigators, who once again showed their determination to bring criminals to justice.

“This dangerous Class A drug devastates lives and communities, as it is always linked to wider criminality. “