Suspected migrants found on lorry

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Twelve suspected illegal immigrants have been arrested after being found in a furniture delivery lorry.

The men, from Afghanistan, were discovered on Friday at Lakeside shopping centre, near Thurrock, Essex.

The stowaways, including a 14-year-old boy and other teenagers, were on board a Polish-registered truck, police said.

The under 18s have been put into the care of social services and the adults are at police stations awaiting processing by immigration officers.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said the group were heard "thumping" the inside of a trailer when they were found.

"Twelve people have been arrested on suspicion of being illegal immigrants," she said.

"They have been taken into the custody of police and will be processed by officers from the Border and Immigration Agency.

"Those under 18 have been taken into the care of social services."