THREE illegal immigrants are still being held at Swindon police station waiting to be dealt with by immigration officials.

The immigrants were picked up in Blagrove on Monday after escaping from a lorry they used to travel into the country.

Ten more immigrants were caught the same day in the back of a lorry on the M4 motorway.

The driver stopped his vehicle on the hard shoulder near Swindon when he heard banging noises in the back of his carriage.

Claiming to be from Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans, the immigrants were all arrested and taken to Swindon police station.

Immigration officials arrived in Swindon to take away 10 of the immigrants at 10pm on Tuesday.

It is believed they are all applying to the UK for political asylum.

Police will keep the remaining three immigrants in cells at the station until officials collect them later this week.

Anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant can be arrested and held in custody on one of three grounds; entering the country illegally, remaining in the country after the period on their visa has expired or failing to comply with the conditions of their visa.