Two men have been arrested on suspicion of working illegally at a Shropshire kebab shop after they were found hiding in a cupboard used to store cabbages.

The men have been released on a temporary basis after an investigation by the UK Borders Agency.

It said two Turkish men had been taken into custody at 4.20pm on Saturday on suspicion of working without permission.

They were employed at Efes Kebab Shop in Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury.

The men were kept in custody overnight on Saturday at Shrewsbury police station.

Nobody from Efes was available for comment today.

A spokesman for the UKBA said: “Acting on intelligence, immigration officers swooped on Efes Kebab Shop, Castle Foregate, at 4.20pm on Saturday.

“As they entered the takeaway shop, officers saw two workers running toward the back of the shop. They were caught hiding in a locker storing cabbages.

“Officers sealed all exits before questioning the workers and checking their immigration status.

“The suspected illegal immigrants at first denied working at the shop, but when they were shown CCTV footage of them working behind the counter they admitted that they were indeed working.

“They had taken off their workwear as soon as immigration officers entered the shop and had thrown their clothes in a sink.

“Both of the workers were identified as failed asylum seekers from Turkey and were bailed under strict reporting conditions while the UK Border Agency takes steps to remove them from the country as soon as possible.

“The business was issued with an on-the-spot penalty notice for employing illegal workers and may now face a fine of up to £20,000.”

Before the visit to the kebab shop, UK Border Agency officers also caught a male Iranian illegal immigrant working at a car wash run by a company called Hands On in the car park of Tesco in Shrewsbury.

Seven Bulgarian nationals working at the car wash — six men and one woman — were also questioned by immigration officers and enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information on suspected illegal immigrants should call 0800 555 111.

By Andrew Morris