SIX illegal immigrants including a 16-year-old boy were arrested in Amesbury on Tuesday after they were discovered inside a refrigerated lorry.

The police were called after noise was heard coming out of a lorry at the Minton Distribution Park off London Road at just before 8am.

Five of the immigrants were from Iraq and Iran while one was from Turkey.

Police confirmed there were two Iraqi women aged 54 and 38, while the other four were men aged between 16 and 38.

The 63-year-old Spanish driver was arrested on suspicion of assisting their illegal entry into the UK. After being checked by medics, all six were arrested and taken to Melksham custody on suspicion of entering the UK illegally.

They were due to be handed over to UK Border Agency officials yesterday as the Journal went to press. The UKBA will then process any potential asylum claims.

The lorry belonged to a Vitacress Salads supplier and the firm’s managing director Chris Hall said emergency services had been called immediately.

"The incident was handed over to and handled by the police and Vitacress staff offered their support during this incident," he said. "Vitacress works with a number of 3rd parties and operates a rigorous supplier assessment and audit programme.

"We will continue to work with all our 3rd party suppliers to ensure the safety and security of our deliveries.”

It comes after all three south Wiltshire MPs voted against a plan for Britain to take in 3,000 unaccompanied Syrian refugee children who have travelled to Europe.

On Monday night, MPs voted by 294 votes to 276 to reject the amendment to the Government’s Immigration Bill which was proposed by Labour’s Lord Dubs.

Ministers said they would take 3,000 vulnerable children, but only from camps nearer the conflict zone.

Salisbury MP John Glen, South West Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison and Devizes MP Claire Perry all voted against the plan.