Suspected illegal immigrants arrested as lorry stopped on A38 in Somerset

Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences after a lorry was stopped on the A38 in Somerset.

The vehicle was stopped on the A-road at North Petherton, near Bridgwater, at around 8.15pm.

Eyewitnesses described seeing “several” people exit the back of the lorry and make off on foot.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police initially confirmed a "number" of people had been arrested and that a search was underway.

Eyewitness Ellie Miller, who drove past the stopped lorry, said its back doors were wide open and stock appeared to have been knocked over.