Eight suspected illegal immigrants have been released on bail after they were allegedly found banging against the walls of a trailer.
A lorry driver reported hearing banging from inside his trailer at about 1.20pm on the A414 Three Mile Hill in Chelmsford before police attended and closed the road.
The Home Office today confirmed that four Iranian men, two Vietnamese men and two Vietnamese women were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.
It will try to deport them if they find no legal right to remain.
A Home Office spokesman said: "We work closely with the police to tackle illegal immigration and continue to strengthen the security of our border to stop those who have no right to enter the UK.
"If people have a genuine need of protection they should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach. If they are just seeking to evade immigration control they need to know that they are risking their lives and that they will get caught."
Source: Essex Chronicle