A 25-year-old Indian man is facing deportation and his employers could be fined up to £20,000 after immigration officers swooped on a March garage yesterday.

Acting on intelligence, Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers visited the BP petrol station, Dartford Road, at about 2pm. Staff were questioned to check if they had the right to live and work in the UK.

As a result the Indian man was arrested as he had overstayed his visa and was working illegally. He is now detained while steps are taken to remove him from the UK.

The employer was served a notice warning the business will be liable for a fine of up to £20,000 for the illegal worker, unless evidence is provided that the correct pre-employment checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or a Home Office document.

Alison Spowage, Assistant Director for Immigration Enforcement in the East Midlands, said: “Our specialist teams regularly carry out operations like this in Cambridgeshire.

“I would urge members of the public with detailed information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.”

John Clark, who witnessed the arrest and caught the incident on camera, said: “My wife and I were returning home after a trip out to see friends. My wife was driving and there was a truck reversing into Lidl, thus the traffic jam.

“We just happened to be in the right place at the time to record the incident.”

Mr Clark added that both entrances were blocked off as two vehicles from immigration control led out at least one person.

One vehicle was reversed to the entrance doors as the suspect was led out and into the rear doors of the vehicle. The vehicle was then secured and the cones were collected before it drove away.

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.