Immigration officers who swooped on a town centre business in Maidstone found one member of staff working illegally after overstaying his visa.

Six Immigration Enforcement vehicles arrived at the Buddha Belly restaurant on the corner of the High Street and Pudding Lane at around 3.30pm yesterday.

The restaurant is fully open and trading as usual.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Acting on intelligence officers from the Home Office Kent and Sussex Immigration Enforcement team visited the Buddha Belly restaurant in Pudding Lane, Maidstone yesterday.

"They interviewed staff working there and one man, aged 20 from Bangladesh, was found to be working illegally having overstayed his visa. He was escorted from the building and will report regularly to the Home Office while his case is progressed. If it is found he has no right to remain in the country steps will be taken to remove him from the UK.

"The business was served a notice warning that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 will be imposed unless proof is provided that legally required right to work checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or a Home Office document."

Assistant director Richard Lederle, from Home Office Immigration Enforcement, added:

"Illegal working defrauds the taxpayer, undercuts employers who ply an honest trade and cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities.

"We are happy to work with those who want to play by the rules but employers who break the law will face the consequences.

"People with detailed and specific information about suspected immigration abuse should contact us."

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact https://www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.