Foreign nationals caught working illegally on farms have been ordered to leave Britain.

The group of five Afghans, four Indians, four Brazilians and six Poles arrested at a dawn road block are to be put on flights back to their home countries after visa breaches.

Sussex Police and immigration services stopped them outside Chichester after information that they were working illegally on farms in the area.

Sgt Phil Nicholas, of the Chichester West Downs Road Policing Unit, said: "We are clearly delighted at the success.

"We will be carrying out other checks in the area and during the rest of the year to ensure everyone working on local farms and other premises is working legally."

The joint operation involved Sussex Police, the Immigration Service and the Vehicle and Operator Standards Agency.

Road blocks were set up at Hunston, south of Chichester, shortly before 6am and a number of minibuses carrying workers to farms in the area were stopped.

Police officers flagged the vehicles down, while immigration officials interviewed those inside with the help of interpreters.

A spokeswoman for the Immigration Service said: "After questioning several people on the buses and other vehicles we found 19 did not have work permits or had illegally overstayed their welcome."

Officials from the Vehicle and Operator Standards Agency checked the vehicles and documentation and found ten defects.