A GROUP of people have been handed over to the immigration service after being found on the back of a lorry.

15 people were found on the back of a lorry on the M25 on Friday April 22 near junction 31 at around 3pm.

Emergency services were called after drivers were concerned that people were in the back of the truck.

The East of England Ambulance Service treated the group and took them to Basildon Hospital.

All 15 were arrested on suspicion of having entered the UK illegally and were taken to Basildon and Grays police stations.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police went to the scene of an incident on a slip road at junction 31 of the M25 on the anti-clockwise side following an initial call at 2.20pm.

“On arrival they found 15 people in the back of the vehicle who appeared to have been there for some time.

“They were all subsequently arrested on suspicion of having entered the UK illegally.

"Paramedics were also at the scene to assess the health of those involved and they were all taken to hospital for further check-ups.

“Traffic on the anti-clockwise side was stopped for a short time while the initial response to the incident was being dealt with.

“The driver of the lorry was spoken to and his details were taken but he has not been arrested.

“All 15 people were checked at hospital were then taken to custody facilities at Grays and Basildon before being collected by Home Office immigration officials.”