Dutch border police have found 17 people, including four minors and two very young children, hiding in a refrigerated lorry during spot checks at Hoek van Holland. The lorry was waiting to board a ferry heading to Britain.

Two people have been arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt, including the 50-year-old Turkish driver. The other, also Turkish, was one of the people in the chill unit.

The group was made up of 14 Turkish nationals, two people from Kuwait and two Iranians. The young children in the group were aged three and four.

All 17 were checked by ambulance staff because the refrigeration unit was on but no-one had to be taken to hospital. The 16 people who are not under arrest will be questioned by police and they can then either claim asylum or will be returned to their country of origin.

In 2023, border police found 47 men, women and children hiding in a lorry during checks at Hoek van Holland port. That lorry was also about to board a ferry for Britain.