IMMIGRATION officers have discovered eight people living in the country illegally during dawn raids on properties in Fareham and Gosport.

The officers from Portsmouth, assisted by police officers, visited three private addresses in the area at about 5am on Wednesday.

The eight South Americans found at the addresses are believed to be working illegally in the area, or using false identities.

They comprised five Bolivian men, two Bolivian women, and one Brazilian man.

They are expected to be deported back to their own countries within the next few days.

The operation was part of an ongoing national campaign to combat illegal immigration and unauthorised employment by foreign nationals.