The former chief inspector of immigration in Britain says the UK Border Force is unable to cope with the influx of migrants to the country.

John Vine says the shortage of experience staff allows criminal gangs and stowaway migrants to go unchecked while sneaking into the British territory.

Reports say some 40,000 suspected illegal migrants were stopped at UK ports over the past one year although many more would have made it through undetected.

On Thursday, the Border Force found 68 suspected illegal immigrants inside four lorries at the port of Harwich, Essex.

According to officials, the migrants including two pregnant women and 15 children crammed inside the vehicles thought to have come from Holland. Seven of them were rush to hospital after they complained stomach and chest pains and faintness.

The migrants still being held by UK Border Agency are from different nationalities: thirty-five people from Afghanistan, 22 from China, 10 from Vietnam and one Russian.

The Homeland office also confirmed the arrest of lorry drivers on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration.

The ferry route between Harwich and the Hook of Holland is regularly used by illegal immigrants coming to the UK.

SKL/SKL