Police have arrested 24 workers on suspicion of being illegal immigrants in a swoop on a book company's warehouse.

The men and women, most of them Kosovan, were arrested as they worked the night shift at Gardners Books in Whittle Drive, Eastbourne.

Police escorted the workers out of the building for questioning. Most of them were in their early 20s and three were women.

Twelve were detained after the swoop on Monday night and another dozen have been granted temporary admission, allowing them to stay to the country pending an investigation.

A Home Office spokesman said four immigrants would be deported from the country in the next couple of days. The other eight who were detained are staying in Home Office accommodation.

He said: "We cannot predict what course of action will be taken with the people arrested as yet. Obviously each individual case will be looked at carefully.

"We carry out many investigations like this every day and we are pleased this was a successful operation."

Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson said: "I cannot really give a full comment until after the matter has been dealt with. But I would always encourage tough action against illegal immigrants."

Jonathan Little, managing director of Gardners Books, alerted the authorities.

He said: "We worked with the authorities and co-ordinated in what was a very successful operation. They dealt with it and that was that.

"We are a major employer in the town and have just about every nationality working here. We are an equal opportunities employer - as long as they can do the job that's fine.

"But we were a bit worried about the employment details of some workers, which is why we alerted the authorities who are now investigating the matter."

Gardners Books is one of Eastbourne's largest employers with more than 1,000 workers.