IMMIGRATION officers raided a Blackburn flat as part of an investigation into suspected illegal immigrants.

Around a dozen officers from the Border and Immigration Agency targeted a one-bedroom flat in King Street on Monday morning.

Officers said they were acting on intelligence received from the public.

However they said no arrests were made.

Mark Brazendale, owner of Blackburn Products, a haulage firm next door to the flat, said: "Around 12 officers wearing blue suits with immigration written on their uniform raided the flat at around 8am.

"I have CCTV outside my business but they didn't ask to look at it.

"They were here about half an hour and then left."

Derek Walsh, 47, who lives next door to the flat, above The Trader Centre, said: "I woke up to find officers at the door asking if I knew where the neighbours were.

"It's not what you expect to see first thing in the morning."

Sian Freestone-Walker, a spokesman for the Border and Immigration Agency, said: "We carried out an operation in Blackburn but there was nobody at the premises.

"We didn't arrest anybody.

"We were acting on intelligence regarding illegal working and will continue to act upon information provided to us by the public."