As many as 12 suspected illegal immigrants are reported to have hopped out the back of a lorry in Suffolk bringing the number reported in the county to 25 in eight days.

Police have said the latest batch – which included at least one child - were seen at Landwade Road in Exning, near Newmarket, on Thursday.

Six were apprehended by Suffolk police in Landwade Road after officers received at telephone call from a member of the public at 5.45pm.

Ryan Brunning, a spokesman for Suffolk Constabulary, said three more were detained by Cambridgeshire police while walking towards Fordham.

Mr Brunning said there was a possibility that three further people were still at large.

No details were available about the genders of those detained.

They are said to have got out of a Spanish-registered lorry.

It is believed those who have been apprehended are of Iraqi and Iranian origin.

They were taken to Bury St Edmunds police investigation centre and immigration officials were informed.

Their detention came after 13 men, who were also believed to be from Iraq, were stopped by members of the public who chased them when they got out of a lorry in Ransomes Europark in Ipswich, on October 21.

The HGV and trailer was delivering goods from mainland Europe to warehouse and distribution company Debach Enterprises at around 3.15pm.

In July 10 suspected illegal immigrants were also detained near Newmarket after they were seen fleeing from a lorry which had come from Calais.

Witnesses saw the group getting out of the lorry at about 10:10am on the A14 near the junction with the A142.

Seven were arrested at the scene on suspicion of illegal entry into the UK. Three were found in Exning.