Police helicopter tracks illegal immigrants

The men, aged in their 20s and from Iran, were spotted running from the ferry at Newhaven at around 9am yesterday (Thursday).

The trio jumped over fences to avoid customs officials but were spotted by a police patrol unit.

After a 20 minute hunt a police helicopter, using thermal imagery equipment, tracked two of the men to Denton Island.

They were found hiding in scrubland and arrested.

The third man managed to evade police for an hour but was eventually caught by officers at the back of City Plumbing in Avis Way.

All three men were detained by immigration staff and returned to France by ferry.