Traffic on the M3 has been brought to a standstill after migrants were discovered in the back of a lorry.
Drivers are facing 10-mile tailbacks back to the M25 after police shut off the road.
Pictures from the scene show officers surrounding the French HGV with migrants wrapped in foil blankets at the side of the southbound carriageway.
It’s unknown when the road could reopen, but traffic has been easing.
Migrant lorry discovery comes as enforced returns jump to highest level in six years
The discovery of the suspected migrants comes as figures show the number of enforced returns of people who do not have a right to stay in the UK jumped to the highest level in six years.
Some 8,164 enforced returns took place in 2024, up 28% on the previous 12 months. It is the highest annual total since 2018, when the figure was 9,236, according to Home Office data published earlier today.
A breakdown of the figures show there were 4,428 enforced returns in the second half of last year, compared with 3,736 in the first six months.
The Home Office is responsible for returning people to their country of origin if they do not have a legal right to remain in the UK.
Latest photos show migrant lorry and queues of traffic
These are the latest photos of the scene, showing a gridlocked lane of the M3 and a view of the lorry by the roadside.
The M3 has been at a standstill (Image: W8Media)
A view of the lorry (Image: W8Media)
First pictures from scene
Migrants sit on the barrier as the lorry is parked with it’s doors open.
Police and ambulance crews surround the scene.
Those from the back of the HGV are wrapped in blankets.
They are wrapped in blankets (Image: w8media)
Migrants sit on the barrier (Image: w8media)
Where is the motorway closed?
The M3 and closed southbound between junctions 2 and 3.
Take a look at our interactive map below.
What do we know so far?
A lorry has been pulled over and traffic stopped on the M3 southbound after migrants were found in the back.
Police and paramedics are at the scene, with migrants pictured wrapped in foil blankets sitting at the side of the busy motorway.
There are 10 mile queues back to junction 2 for the M25, up until junction 3.
The lorry is a French HGV and police have been seen speaking to the driver.
