EIGHT illegal immigrants were being detained in police custody after being spotted travelling in the back of lorries on two separate motorways in Hampshire.

Firstly, a lorry driver travelling eastbound between junctions four and three of the M27, found two Iraqi immigrants when he stopped at Rownhams Services around 6.30am on Saturday.

Motorists are believed to have been gesturing for him to pull over for several minutes beforehand. The immigrants were later taken to Eastleigh police station.

Another lorry driver travelling southbound on the M3, pulled into Fleet Services and phoned the police after spotting six immigrants waving to passing cars.

Five of the immigrants were detained at Fleet Services. The sixth was caught by police after trying to escape on foot along the motorway hard shoulder.

They were all later taken to Aldershot police station.