A Vietnamese man who was working in a nail bar is now in immigration detention after he was found to have entered the UK illegally.

Ellie Nails in High Street, Hythe, encountered a visit from immigration enforcement officers at 10.45am.

The 21-year-old was taken to immigration detention and is “pending removal” from the country.

A child, also from Vietnam, was found on the premises and has been passed onto the care of social services.

The nail shop now needs to prove it carries out the right checks on its workers or receive fines of up to £40,000.

Two immigration vans and a police car were spotted in Station Road this morning, close to the High Street.

A Home Office spokesman said: “Ellie Nails has been served with a notice warning that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed unless the business can demonstrate that appropriate right to work checks were carried out on staff, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work.

“This is a potential total of up to £40,000.”

The police also helped with the operation.

People with information about suspected immigration abuse can report it online here or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.