Police and border guards caught 1,371 people hiding or trying to hide in containers and lorries at Rotterdam port last year, a rise of over 400 on 2017.

Of the total, 897 were Albanian nationals hoping to make the crossing to Britain, Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutleb has told city officials.

The rise in interceptions is due to an increase in spot checks and the fact more people trying to make the trip, the mayor said.

Albanians do not need a visa to travel through the Netherlands but do need paper work to enter Britain.

An increasing number of people are attempting to get to Britain via Dutch sea ports.

Last November, 50 Albanian nationals were found hiding in lorries in Vlaardingen and  seven Albanians were found at the Moerdijk cargo port.