Border Force officers were called to Ramsgate harbour after four Iraqi nationals - including a pregnant woman and a child - were discovered adrift in a boat.

Officials were requested by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency yesterday afternoon after two men, a woman and a child were found onboard a fishing vessel 8.5 miles out to sea, which was rescued by the RNLI

Two British men, aged 38 and 67, were also on the boat - and have been arrested on suspicion of facilitating a breach of the UK's inmigration law.

A 20-year-old on the quayside, has been arrested on suspicion of the same offence.

Border Force officers attended Ramsgate to interview the four foreign nationals, whose cases will now be dealt with in line with immigration rules.

The pregnant woman was taken to hospital as a precaution.

The investigation has been passed to Immigration Enforcement’s criminal and financial investigations team and all three men, who remain in custody, are due to be interviewed later today.