THE OWNERS of the lorry from which emerged 15 suspected illegal immigrants said the vehicle had been on its way to Dover.

Police were called to the A350 between Chippenham and the M4 on Wednesday night following reports of men in the HGV’s trailer.

The men, all thought to be aged between 16 and 30, have been arrested on suspicion of entering the UK illegally. The Irish lorry driver, 50s, has also been arrested on immigration charges.

READ MORE: Irishman, 50s, arrested after 15 'illegal immigrants' discovered in the back of a lorry near Chippenham

In a statement, Delaney Transport International, the Cork-based firm that owns the lorry from which the suspected illegal immigrants emerged, said their driver was en-route from Calais to Dover.

“The driver heard knocking and thought it was a flat tyre. He came off the motorway and pulled in to a lay-by,” the firm told Cork radio station 96FM.

“He then heard knocking from the trailer when the truck stopped. Another lorry driver, who had pulled into the area, came over to see if everything was ok.

“That lorry driver then heard knocking on the trailer as well. The Delaney Transport driver then immediately called the police who arrived to find 15 people in the back of the trailer.”

The Home Office has taken over the investigation.