Four suspected illegal migrants spotted walking along the M2 near Gillingham claim to have come from Eritrea, the Home Office have revealed.

Police were called to the London bound carriageway near J4 of the busy motorway at 7.10am yesterday.

The men, aged between 22 and 33, were arrested on suspicion of entering the UK illegally and were passed to immigration officers from the Home Office for interview.

They claim to have come from Eritrea, in the Horn of Africa.

Two of the men remain in immigration detention and the other two have been released on immigration bail.

They must report regularly to the Home Office while their cases are considered.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The men, aged between 22 and 33, claim to be from Eritrea.

"Two of the men remain in immigration detention. Two have been released on immigration bail and must report regularly to the Home Office while their cases are considered in line with the immigration rules.

"Where someone is found to have no right to remain in the UK, we will take action to remove them."

The police dog unit was seen searching the hard shoulder.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: “They will now be dealt with by immigration officials from the Home Office.”