A GROUP of suspected illegal immigrants have been detained in Swindon after noises were heard coming from the back of a lorry trailer.

Seven men were discovered hiding in the trailer that was parked at the Save Garage in Marlborough Road at 1pm on Wednesday. And two other men, believed to be from the same lorry, were picked up from junction 15 slip road of the M4.

The group, thought to be of Middle Eastern origin, were detained by police and brought to Swindon Central Police Station.

The pair who were picked up from the M4 slip road were taken to Westlea Police Station. The German lorry driver, who had entered the country at Dover, claimed that he was unaware of the stowaways on board.

All of the detainees have since been released into the care of the Immigration Service.