FIVE illegal workers were arrested by immigration officers following raids at two businesses - and their owners now face a hefty fine.

Officers swooped on Mr Cod in High Street, and Arrow Embroidery Services in Wexham Road, both in Slough, on Wednesday last week where they carried out immigration checks.

A 37-year-old man from Pakistan who was found to be a failed asylum seeker was arrested at Mr Cod. He was detained pending his removal from the UK.

His boss now faces a fine of up to �10,000 unless proof can be provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.

Four Indian men aged between 20 and 31 were arrested at Arrow Embroidery Services. Two were found to have over-stayed their visas and two had entered the UK illegally.

All four were detained pending their removal from the UK.

Their employer now faces a fine of up to �40,000 unless proof is provided that pre-employment checks were carried out.

Paul Smith, head of the Home Office Thames Valley immigration enforcement team, said: "Illegal working fuels illegal immigration to the UK and that is why we are carrying out operations like these.

"If you are a business you must carry out the correct checks on your staff or you could end up with a heavy fine.

"Our enforcement teams carry out operation like this almost every day and those arrested for immigration offences face being detained until they are removed. They also face a ban from returning to the UK." Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/business-sponsors/preventing-illegal-working/ or they can call the Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration crime can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sloughobserver and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sloughobserver