A BID for freedom by 46 Tamils ended in the south Wiltshire countryside on Friday afternoon, when they were rounded up and arrested by police.

Officers swooped at about 3.30pm after receiving calls from concerned members of the public that people were scrambling out of the back of a lorry near Broad Chalke.

The lorry was found parked at the side of the road near the hamlet of Fifield Bavant.

What appeared to be illegal immigrants were still getting out of the vehicle but they were all caught by police and arrested.

The German driver of the lorry, Erich Kurt Lange (47), was also arrested and taken to Salisbury police station, where he was detained for questioning over the weekend and charged on Sunday with facilitating the illegal entry of the fleeing Tamils.

Some of the Tamils were found to be suffering from dehydration and all were taken to Salisbury District Hospital for routine medical checks.

They were later released from hospital and, after being quizzed by immigration officers, were found temporary accommodation in Fareham.

Salisbury MP Robert Key praised the prompt action taken by the police in dealing with the incident at Fifield Bavant.

"They were really on the ball and deserve our congratulations," he said.

"But the incident involving these 46 Tamils underlines that we are all under threat from wicked people exploiting vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers - and we must do something quickly to prevent further near-tragedies."