Two illegal immigrants have been found hiding in a lorry at a Hampshire ferry port.

The two men were discovered in a Lancashire-bound lorry at Portsmouth.

They have been removed from the UK.

The pair, aged 29 and 30, were detained by Border Force officers after being discovered in a load of stone being carried by a lorry which had just arrived on a ferry from Caen at 1.15pm yesterday.

The vehicle was destined for an address in the Blackburn area.

The ferry operator alerted Border Force that two men were seen running around the port of Caen before the vessel departed.

When the boat arrived at Portsmouth, the pair were discovered by officers hidden in a lorry.

The men had cut through the lorry trailer’s canvas roof and neatly sewn the gap up in an attempt to evade detection.

Both men were removed to Caen at 10pm yesterday.

The vehicle was allowed to continue on to its destination.

Andy Lumb, of Border Force at Portsmouth, said: “This incident shows the lengths some would-be illegal entrants will go to in a bid to reach the UK.

“Clearly these two men thought they had covered their tracks but were found thanks to the assistance of the ferry operator and determination of Border Force officers.

“We are at the forefront of the fight to stop illegal immigrants, drugs, weapons and other contraband entering the UK and our officers are on constant alert to keep them out of the country.”