Mars migrants found in Slough

FIFTEEN chocolate-covered stowaways were arrested today after they were found in more than 20 tonnes of cocoa powder destined for a Mars Bar factory.

The illegal immigrants coughed and spluttered as they climbed out of a tanker at the plant in Slough.

One Mars worker said: "The driver got on top to open the hatches on the roof. When the driver looked down he saw lots of men in brown-coloured clothes - all saturated with the powder. Goodness knows how they managed to breathe because it is very fine and would have been in the air. The tanker was about half full - the usual maximum load - so there would have been room for 15 men to ride on top of it."

Paramedics were called to the scene but none of the stowaways needed treatment.

A police spokesman said the men, all believed to be from the Middle East and aged between 20 and 40, were unhurt but coughing from the effects of the cocoa powder "crumb" as they were put into police vans.

He said: "Police received a call to go to the Slough Trading Estate, where they searched the lorry and found the men on board."

The Hungarian driver, who had driven the cargo from Amsterdam, was also arrested and taken to Slough police station. The spokesman said that it was not yet known whether he had been aware of his illegal cargo.

The men were due to be interviewed by immigration service staff later today. The cocoa was to be turned into Mars Bars, Twix, Snickers and M & Ms.