Nine suspected illegal immigrants who were found inside a tanker on a motorway remain in detention today.

Immigration enforcement officers have spoken to all nine suspects and confirmed that five are from Syria and the remaining four from Egypt.

All of them are male, with the Syrians aged between 18 and 29 and the Egyptians 18 and 42.

They are all at the Home Office's migration enforcement centre in Dover.

Kent Police were called to the M20 London-bound, between junction five for Aylesford and four for Leybourne, at 7.38am on Wednesday, January 7.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We work closely with the police to tackle illegal immigration and continue to strengthen the security of our border to stop those who have no right to enter the UK.

"If people have a genuine need of protection they should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.

"If they are just seeking to evade immigration control they need to know that they are risking their lives and that they will get caught."

No arrests have been made and there are no reports of anyone suffering any injuries.