The owners of a Chinese restaurant are facing a possible six-figure fine after 11 staff members were arrested in an immigration raid.

Sussex Police officers along with UK Border Agency staff arrested ten men and one woman during a raid on China China restaurant in Preston Street, Brighton, just before 6pm on Friday.

The 11 members of staff arrested in the raid include ten men aged between 19 and 48 and one 50-year-old woman - ten Chinese nationals and one male from Malaysia.

Eight of those arrested remained in detention awaiting removal at the time of The Argus going to print while the remaining three were released pending further enquiries.

The workers have been charged with range of immigration offences including illegal entry into the UK, working in breach of visa conditions and being a failed asylum seeker.

During the raid on Friday night, the restaurant was also served with a notice of civil penalty of up to £10,000 per employee unless the restaurant’s management is able to prove they carried out the correct right to work checks.

One eye witness said: “It was quite surreal to see all the customers eating their meals while immigration officials were interrogating staff on the next table.”

In 2009, the restaurant was raided twice in a matter of months with 11 suspected illegal immigrant workers arrested by UK Border Agency officials.