Eight illegal migrants poisoned by fumes

Eight suspected illegal immigrants were rushed to hospital today after they were overcome with fumes from a tanker they had hidden in.

The group of men - believed to be from Afghanistan - were discovered by the driver inside the tank of the vehicle which had travelled into the UK from Germany. It is believed the tanker was carrying a carbonbased substance.

The driver called emergency services when he found the stowaways just after 8am in Harrow Manor Road, Abbey Wood, southeast London. A cordon was put up and crews in chemical protection suits checked the load as police diverted traffic. A police spokesman said: "Eight people were found in the tanker suffering from effects of gas emitting from the load."

A London Ambulance Service spokesman added: "Their condition is not believed to be serious."