THIRTEEN would-be illegal immigrants have been handed over to the UK Border Force after being found in a container at a borough port.

Four months after the discovery of 39 Vietnamese people in a container that came through Purfleet docks, the same port was again visited by police and paramedics at around 8.40am, alerted to the people in a container.

The 13 were checked over by paramedics and were left in the care of the UK Border Force.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We were called at about 8.40am on Friday 14 February with reports people had been found in a container at Purfleet docks.

"Thirteen people were found inside and were checked over by paramedics.

"They are in the care of UK Border Force."