SALISBURY MP Robert Key has spoken of his concern about human trafficking gangs who are bringing illegal immigrants to work in the city's factories.

Mr Key claims employees with often falsified documents are being bussed in from Southampton every day to meet a desperate shortfall in the local workforce.

He is worried that the situation will cause legitimate applicants to miss out on jobs and lead to widespread exploitation of the vulnerable immigrants.

"Salisbury is the prime target for this sort of crime - we have the lowest unemployment rate in the country and many of our factories simply can't get enough staff," he said.

"I have heard large numbers of illegal immigrants are being brought to Salisbury in mini-coaches that leave Southampton at 6am each day.

"They have entered the port there, been found jobs by these people who set themselves up as employment agencies and provide false work permits and national insurance numbers.

"The immigration service just can't cope."

In a letter to Home Office minister Beverly Hughes, Mr Key said the government needed to take a tougher line.

"They are taking the jobs of legitimate applicants and destroying the businesses of employment agencies in Salisbury," he wrote.

"The police have been co-operating with Immigration and Nationality Directorate staff but there are not enough of your officers available to overcome the scale of the problem.

"I understand the gang masters are providing sub-standard housing for these workers, often employed on less than the minimum wage.

"It is such a blatant abuse I am amazed nothing can be done to restore honesty to the workplace."

Mr Key said the factories were not to blame, as the widespread forgery of documentation made the illegal workers hard to identify.

The police have been informed about the practice and will be supporting the immigration service as it tackles those who trade in human lives.

"We are aware of the situation," said a spokesman for Wiltshire Constabulary.

"It is a problem in many areas of the country.

"The police pass on all information to the immigration service, who investigate where they see fit.

"Many of the workers could be legitimate asylum seekers or immigrants who are fully entitled to work.

"Reports of forged documents will be investigated and the authorities will work with local employers to address the problem."

General manager of Churchfields-based cake manufacturer Nicholas and Harris Mick Barlow said his company had discovered staff with false records in the past and all the city's employers needed to be aware of the situation.

"The onus is on the company to make the necessary checks to ensure these agencies don't bring in illegal immigrants," he said.

"We have learned from past experience that documents can be forged and we have introduced a scanner to check records and permits.

"We work with reputable agencies whom I have audited.

"Checks need to be made with the immigration service before staff join the company because this is a serious issue."

A Home Office spokesman said they were unable to comment on investigations into illegal immigrants in specific areas of the country.

However the immigration service is carrying out a fingerprinting pilot scheme and considering identity cards with microchips in the campaign against Britain's illegal workforce.