FOUR illegal immigrants arrived in Dorset clinging to the axle of a lorry.

The men, all thought to be from Iraq, were spotted climbing from under a lorry at Manitou (Site Lift) Ltd, Ebblake Industrial Estate, Verwood on Monday.

The lorry had travelled to Dorset from Manitou's parent company in France via Portsmouth.

Manitou finance director, Adam Le Goff, said: "They all fled as soon as the lorry stopped. They were underneath the trailer in a cradle where the spare wheel goes.

"The driver says the inside of the lorry was checked at the ports but not the underneath.

"This is the second time we've had immigrants come in. Now they're looking at closing the Sangatte camp in France we could be getting more trying to come over."

The men were taken to Poole police station, fed, then handed to the Immigration authorities.

Police said a member of the public saw two men emerging from under the lorry and two others leaving the Ebblake industrial estate.

"They were seen walking towards Verwood town centre when we detained them and took them into custody."