TWO illegal immigrants were discovered in the back of a lorry by police after it was stopped on the M6 in Cheshire last Thursday.

The two persons, thought to be from Afghanistan,were taken to Crewe Police Station before being moved to Liverpool.

The discovery was part of Operation Mermaid which targeted lorries travelling through Cheshire on the motorway network.

Around 40 HGVs were stopped resulting in 17 vehicles being prohibited and 22 offences detected.

Two men, suspected of stealing a motor car, were also arrested.