Two men were found to be working illegally at car washes in Braintree and Dunmow after an immigration raid.

Home Office immigration enforcement officers visited Hands Car Wash, in Springwood Road, Braintree, and questioned staff.

An Albanian man, 34, was detained after officers found he had entered the UK illegally.

He was released and must report regularly to the Home Office while arrangements are finalised to remove him from the country.

During Wednesday’s raid officers also detained a 25-year-old Albanian man, who was working at Waves Car Wash, in Stortford Road, Dunmow, pending his removal from the UK.

Both businesses were served with notices warning fines of up to £20,000 per illegal worker will be imposed unless they can provide evidence appropriate checks of right to work documents, such as a passport or Home Office document, were made.

Chief immigration officer Jack Davis said: “Our specialist teams conduct operations on a daily basis and anyone who is in the UK illegally faces arrest and removal from the country.

“Illegal working defrauds the taxpayer, undercuts honest businesses and cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities.

“We rely on information from the public and I would urge people to report suspected immigration abuse to us.”

Information to help employers carry out checks to prevent illegal working can be found at www.gov.uk/government/collections/employers-illegal-working-penalties.

People with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.