A row has broken out in Britain over plans by the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, to fine lorry drivers two-thousand pounds three-thousand dollars if they are found to have carried illegal immigrants in their lorries.

Mr Straw says the plan would be a big step in solving the problem of illegal immigrants; one-hundred were arrested last week after they were found in a container in southern England.

But the Road Haulage Assocation, which represents lorry firms, described the proposals as outrageous.

It said it would punish innocent drivers, risk confrontation between immigrants and drivers and encourage drivers not to report stowaways.