TWENTY-ONE illegal immigrants who were found in the back of a refrigerated lorry at a service stop in Chippenham are still being processed by immigration officials.

The men, all aged between 15 and 52 and from Afghanistan and Iraq, were found in the back of a Leatrans lorry when it was raided by armed police.

The vehicle had been stopped at Chippenham Pit Stop near Junction 17 of the M4 on Saturday when police were informed at 4.15pm there may be people inside.

Neal Walford, manager of the Chippenham Pit Stop, said: “I was working and we saw four or five police cars escorting this lorry into the service.

“We’ve had lorries which are escorted in by a police car usually because of a puncture but not that many cars.

“In a short space of time a couple more police cars came and we knew it was more significant than a flat tyre but we didn’t think there would be immigrants inside.

“The police asked if they could borrow tools to get the doors open and they used a hacksaw.

“We gave out some water and the ambulance crews had some chocolate because a few of the immigrants had low blood sugar levels but we are happy to support the services in any way we can.”

Armed police units, 14 police vehicles, police dogs and seven ambulances attended the scene, before the group of men were taken to Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Royal United Hospital in Bath and Southmead Hospital in Bristol, as a precautionary measure.

They were later taken to police custody in Melksham and Gablecross, Swindon, but have since been released and are now under the care of UK Border Agency.

A spokesperson for the Home Office said: “Immigration enforcement officers were contacted by Wiltshire police after 21 people were arrested on suspicion of entering the UK illegally.

“They are currently being processed by immigration officials. Someone found to have no right to live in the UK, we will take action to remove them.”

The driver of the lorry, a 26-year-old Romanian man, has been arrested on suspicion of trafficking and been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

The lorry has been seized for further investigation.