Norfolk check on dead cocklers

Survivors were suffering hypothermia-like symptoms

Police are checking to see if 19 cockle pickers who died at Morecambe had travelled from Norfolk.

Over the past year King's Lynn has seen a huge increase in Chinese immigrants arriving to pick fruit and vegetables on surrounding farms.

Norfolk Police said officers were liaising with the Lancashire force but they had no evidence to say that they were from King's Lynn.

The tragedy happened in near-freezing seas overnight on Thursday/Friday.

Coastguards, lifeboats and the RAF joined in the huge rescue effort in which 14 people survived.

'Dig fish'

Police said they were questioning the survivors with the help of Chinese interpreters.

In June, 18 Chinese labourers were found to be sharing a three-bedroom house in King's Lynn which caught fire.

Immigrants working on Norfolk farms are said to earn as little as £2 an hour.

Norfolk police ethnic liaison officer Tony Lombari was told by the county's Chinese community that a large number of workers were moving off to "dig fish".

He said he was trying to establish where they had gone when he heard the news about the cockle pickers' deaths.

Police issued two numbers in connection with the incident:

For witnesses or those with information - 01524 63333

For worried relatives - 0870 9020999