Pictures of dead immigrants shown

The two men were found by the roadside in Witham, Essex, in June.

Pictures of two suspected illegal immigrants have been released by police trying to find out how they died.

Three young men, believed to be from the Indian sub-continent, were found near the A12 in Witham, Essex, in June.

One man was dead and another died two weeks later. Police said both men had died from heat exhaustion.

A third survived, but is still deeply traumatised by his experiences and is helping police with their inquiries, said an Essex Police spokesperson.

Police believe they were brought into the country through a seaport in a confined space in the back of a van or articulated lorry.

It is thought the men were with at least two others, although officers say there may have been more.

The other men travelling with them have never been traced.

In June police searched the area where the men was found

Detectives have released images of the dead men in a bid to identify them and to trace the people responsible for transporting them.

Det Supt Phil Tucker of Essex Police said: "Our priority is to identify these men and find those responsible for their transportation to this country.

"To leave people in a confined space with little water for hour upon hour is sentencing them to a slow death and that is why this enquiry is being conducted as a homicide investigation."

Det Supt Tucker said the surviving man has told police that he comes from Pakistan, but that he thinks the two men who died were from India.

Police are appealing to the Asian communities in Birmingham, the West Midlands and London to help identify the men.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Essex Police.