Immigration officials arrest workers

Forty-four immigrants are facing deportation from the UK after they were arrested in two raids on premises using suspected illegal workers.

More than 30 immigration officials detained 22 people on Tuesday at Pontrilas Sawmills, near Hereford.

The same number of people were arrested during a separate operation at Bomfords, a fruit and vegetable supplier near Evesham, Worcestershire, later in the day.

The Home Office said 41 of the illegal immigrants were Ukrainian, two were Lithuanian and one was Brazilian.

Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes said: "The government is cracking down on illegal working and making good progress in removing increasing numbers of immigration offenders from the UK.

"This type of operation makes the best use of our intelligence and resources - and delivers excellent results."

He added: "Illegal working will not be tolerated.

"It encourages illegal immigration, exploits the workers themselves and undermines legitimate business competition."