AN employee at Darwen-based Zen Wallcoverings today told of the moment six immigrants emerged from a lorry delivering wallpaper from France.

Helen Weaver, export sales administrator, was with the French driver and his translator when he was interviewed by police and said: "He didn't have a clue."

Five people were found inside the lorry and a sixth strapped to the chassis under the truck when it arrived at the Cross Street site.

The four Sudanese men and a Somalian man and woman were questioned by Blackburn police before being taken away for further questioning by the Immigration Service, who treated them as asylum seekers.

An employee at the premises in Darwen spotted a man waving from the vehicle and the alarm was raised. Ms Weaver said: "When the container arrived here the driver had no idea he was carrying anyone on board. One of our colour mixers, who was outside at the time, noticed an arm coming out of the tarpaulin and he alerted the driver who immediately told him to ring the police

"They gave themselves up straight away as though they wanted to be caught. A police officer was walking round the container and heard a voice and that was when the sixth man was discovered under the truck."

Ms Weaver said the shock soon turned to anger for the French driver who had brought them into the country. She said: "He was absolutely horrified that they had come across in his container. The colour drained from his face when he realised what had happened. He has been driving a long time but only for about six months on intercontinental journeys.

"After the initial shock he became quite angry at the French customs at Calais that they had not discovered them before he left the country."

"An Immigration Service spokesman said: "We don't give details about individuals but if the Immigration Service discovers they are here illegally we will seek to remove them."

The Rev Sally Thomas, who runs a Building Bridges refugees and asylum seekers support group in Pendle, said: "Not everyone who comes across should be here, but in countries like Sudan and Somalia it can be legitimate and they need asylum."