A gang allegedly arranged sham marriages to obtain passports for illegal immigrants.

Melissa Reilly, from County Louth in the Irish Republic, was offered £2,500 to wed Nigerian Orobola Osantuyi, 34, to secure his residency.

Staff at Worthing Register Office became suspicious and the bride and groom-to-be were arrested on June 2, Chichester Crown Court heard Ann-Marie Devlin, who lives in the same street as Reilly, was also held. She was allegedly due to be the formal witness at the ceremony.

George Elebiju, 30, from Nigeria, and French-speaking Khadjida Dansokho, of Wyvil Estate, London, were also arrested by immigration officers.

They had inquired about a wedding at the same office on May 29, it was claimed.

The three women and two men have been charged with conspiring to breach UK immigration laws and making false statements to the registrars of marriages.

It is alleged the five used fake addresses, giving the details of empty properties in Worthing.

Dansokho, who needed a French interpreter during the hearing, was remanded in custody alongside Osantuyi and Elebiju.

Judge Richard Thorpe remanded Reilly and Devlin in custody overnight and was expected to decide today whether they should be granted bail.

Marrying British citizens or subjects can make immigrants instantly eligible for a British passport and permanent residency in the UK.

Judge Thorpe adjourned the case until September 10.

None of the five has entered a plea.