EIGHT people are with the immigration services after being found in the grounds of docks at Purfleet this morning.

The port is where a container came ashore in October last and was found to contain the bodies of 39 people from Vietnam.

Following the tragedy local residents around the port spoke of their concerns about the number of immigrants coming through the area. Former port security guard Gary Lilley, 61, described how Purfleet 'comes alive at night' with the arrival of trafficked migrants.

Mr Lilley, who lives opposite the port, also claimed minibuses meet lorries to take away the migrants following their arrival.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: "We were called at around 7am today, Monday, 3 February, with reports eight people were found at Purfleet Docks in Purfleet Deep Wharf.

"We made Border Force aware before the people found were transferred to them. There were no arrests".