FOUR suspected illegal immigrants are being quizzed by Home Office officials after travelling to the North-East in the back of a lorry.

The men, believed to be from Afghanistan, were arrested after jumping from a lorry which was destined for a County Durham factory.

When the truck driver stopped on the edge of Merrington Lane Industrial Estate, in Spennymoor, on Wednesday night to ask for directions the stowaways attempted to escape.

A security guard spotted them as they leapt from the back of the stationary vehicle and ran away.

Police were called and two men were detained at the scene.

Sniffer dogs and the police helicopter support team helped trace two other men who were hiding in nearby Coulson Street.

The four men and the driver, a 35-year-old man of Polish origin, were held in police cells overnight on Wednesday.

Last night they were still being detained at Bishop Auckland Police Station and the lorry had been seized as a Home Office investigation got underway.

It is understood the four Afghanistan men boarded the truck in Italy but it was not clear whether the driver was aware he was carrying men in the hold or whether they had sneaked on board.

A police spokesperson said the matter was now in the hands of immigration officials from the Home Office.

The Home Office was last night unable to comment on the specific case but confirmed that the incident occurred.

A spokeswoman said: "The IND (Immigration and Nationality Directorate) is committed to responding to requests by the police to attend clandestine events whenever and wherever operationally possible.

"We take very seriously any attempt to evade immigration control and constantly review measures in place to counter emerging threats.

"This is vital in preventing and deterring illegal entry to the UK by individuals or organised groups.

"We have already introduced a number of measures to make our borders secure. However, there will inevitably be some occasions when clandestine entrants manage to penetrate our borders unlawfully despite the best efforts of IND, which must apply correct due process in each and every instance in the interests of all concerned."