Police swarmed around a petrol station after suspected illegal immigrants were seen jumping out of the top of a truck and running towards Basildon.

Concerned motorists raised the alarm after spotting people climbing out of a truck, which was parked on the forecourt of the BP garage at the Fortune of War roundabout in Laindon, at about 8pm yesterday.

Eight people were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences and were referred to the Home Office.

At least seven of the group told border officials that they were from Iraq and Iran and their cases will be progressed in line with immigration.

The eighth person was aged under 18 years old and has been referred to the care of social services.

When asked where the men are believed to have entered the UK and where the lorry was headed to, the Home Office declined to release further details.

The police helicopter was also scrambled to search for further suspected illegal immigrants, who fled the scene, but nobody was found.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "Police were contacted shortly before 8pm yesterday, Tuesday, May 30, following concerns of people in the back of a lorry on the A127 in Laindon. 

"Officers attended the scene and detained eight people on suspicion of immigration offences. They were then passed over to Border Force officials.

"There were reports of further people and police carried out a search in the nearby area, however, no further people were detained."