Workers arrested in factory raid

Immigration officers are trying to track other staff

Nearly 60 workers have been arrested at a factory in Shropshire during a raid by police and immigration officers.

They targeted Epson's Hortonwood factory in Telford on Tuesday after a tip-off from the company.

It is believed the workers at the plant, where ink cartridges for printers are made, came from Africa and south Asia.

Thirty-seven people have been issued with removal detention orders. Another 22 are still being questioned.

Some people will have been paid between £5,000 and £20,000 to be facilitated into the UK by organised gangs David Holdsworth

About 50 police and immigration officers were involved in Operation Geomancy, which has been running for several months.

Fake passports described as "sophisticated" have also been seized.

Immigration officers are continuing to try to track other staff who are believed to have worked at the company illegally.

David Holdsworth, from the UK Immigration Service, said: "Some people will have been paid between £5,000 and £20,000 to be facilitated into the UK by organised gangs.

"Other people have overstayed their stay in the United Kingdom."

Epson Telford Ltd was supplied with the workers by an agency.

Ray Prior, from the company, said: "The only way that any company can be sure that they are getting this matter right is to operate with the immigration service.

"It's obviously their job to advise and support companies in this process, and it's better to work closely with the experts rather than to try and struggle through on your own."