A lorry load of immigrants has been prevented from entering the country after being found hiding in a shipment of oranges.

The 22 men - 14 Iranians and eight Agfhans - were in a lorry headed for Orchard Place, Borough Green.

The Spanish lorry was stopped by the UK Border Agency at Calais on Friday, December 17, and the stowaways were handed over to French police.

But despite being allowed to continue with its delivery, the haulage firm and the Spanish driver could now face fines of up to £2,000 per stowaway.

They will have to prove they took steps to secure the vehicle.

Carole Upshall, of the UK Border Agency, said: "This incident shows why we base UK Border Agency staff in France - to stop would-be illegal immigrants before they can reach the UK.

“As well as physically searching vehicles, officers use heartbeat detectors, carbon dioxide probes and sniffer dogs to find people hiding in vehicles.”