Nine people have been found hidden in the back of a refrigerated truck at the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, local broadcaster Omroep Brabant said.

The nine – three Vietnamese men, three Vietnamese women and three Iraqi men – were found after one of them phoned the police, saying they feared for their lives.

Police tracked the lorry, which was carrying vegetables, by following the phone signal and also asked the man who made the call to alert them when he heard police sirens.

The lorry was travelling on the A16 near Hazeldonk at the time. The Spanish driver was arrested.

The nine people were aware that they would be travelling in a refrigerated lorry and had been given warm clothing, the broadcaster said. Nevertheless, after eight hours, they were so cold that they decided to alert the police.

The nine thought they were heading for England. However, paperwork in the lorry showed that it was due to delivery its load in the Netherlands, Omroep Brabant said.