An astonishing 28 immigrants have been caught allegedly trying to smuggle themselves out of Kent.

The group, including two children, was found in a Polish lorry on a P&O ferry that left Dover in the early hours.

But they were held by French border police when the Spirit of France vessel arrived in Calais on Tuesday.

The Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Afghani and Sri Lankan nationals were brought back to Dover on another boat later that day.

Border Force officers are now set to question the group, made up of 22 men and six other people from two families - including two children.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Border Force officers in Dover are currently processing 28 people who were found by the Police Aux Frontieres in Calais concealed in a lorry which had crossed the Channel from Dover.

"Under an agreement between the UK and French governments the 28 were returned to Dover in the same way as clandestine migrants found at our controls in Calais are passed to the French authorities.

"If those questioned are found to have no right to remain in the UK we will take action to remove them."

The spokesman added 26 people remain in detention and will be interviewed.

The two children - part of the two family groups - have been granted temporary admission to Britain pending the investigation.

It is not known if the lorry driver, who was interviewed by police in France, has been charged.