A FAMILY-OF-FOUR found hiding in the back of a lorry are now applying to live legally in south Essex, the Home Office has revealed.

Officers detained a man, a woman and two children after passing drivers spotted a group of suspected illegal immigrants climbing out of the back of a a lorry in Eastmayne, Basildon.

The family, from Iraq, were arrested on suspicion of illegal entry into the UK and were passed into the care of immigration officials, who detained them in custody.

The Home Office told the Echo the family were interviewed by officers and have since made immigration applications, which are being processed.

Phil Turner, leader of Basildon Council, said the council would not house the family.

He said: "We don't house illegal immigrants.

"Our housing policy is one of the toughest in the country, you have to have a seven-year local connection. If you don't have that, then you aren't going to get a house.

"Our housing policy is to provide homes for people who need them and that is our local residents.

"I think a lot of people are seeing migration from London but they are not coming into council homes, they are moving into private dwellings."

He added: "Personally I think it's absolutely appalling that they have managed to come through the border somewhere. It makes you wonder how many more are getting through?

"People will think that this is a good reason to get out of the EU but people will still enter the UK illegally whether we are part of the EU or not."

The Echo reported yesterday that at least two men were seen running from a hole cut in the side of a lorry, and are believed to be hiding out in Basildon.

Police were called to Eastmayne at about 3pm on Saturday.

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "Immigration enforcement was contacted by Essex Police after police officers attended an incident in Eastmayne, Basildon.

"A family group of four people - a man, woman and two children - from Iraq had been taken into custody on suspicion of entering the UK illegally.

"After being interviewed by immigration officers, the family have made immigration applications which are being progressed in line with immigration rules."