Mill raided for illegal workers

Some of the workers hid on the roof of the mill

People working illegally at a Manchester mill hid in cardboard boxes and on the roof during a raid by the UK Border Agency.

A total of 21 men and two women, from Pakistan and Afghanistan, were arrested at Majid House in Ardwick.

Officials checked the documents of the workers and questioned them about their immigration status.

All those arrested are now being interviewed by UK Border Agency officers, a spokeswoman said.

The UK Border Agency said a number of people in the building tried to hide on the roof and two men were found hiding inside cardboard packing boxes, which then had more boxes piled on top of them.

Police officers and representatives from the Department of Work and Pensions, trading standards and the Health and Safety Executive were also involved in the operation.

Majid House contains about 20 separate businesses, most of which produce wholesale knitwear and textiles.