FIVE suspected illegal immigrants were seen jumping off the back of a lorry on the outskirts of Oxford yesterday.

Staff at Unipart called police just after 9am, after the men fled the vehicle when it was opened by security guards outside the company’s distribution centre in Garsington Road.

Spokesman Frank Nigriello said the five men ran off from the lorry, which was carrying products from an unnamed European country used by Unipart, before splitting up and hiding in a nearby field. Two got as far as Horspath Road.

Soon after Thames Valley Police, who would not reveal what country the men were from, intervened and arrested the first man at 9.13am and the other four men before 9.30am.

Unipart and TVP did not say if anyone else had escaped after jumping off the lorry, but added that five men had been detained for entering the country illegally.

A nearby witness said: “I have seen dog handlers from the police looking for them.

“I saw them jump off and run towards Horspath Road.”

Police spokeswoman Lucy Billen said: “Five men were detained nearby and are being held in custody for entering the country illegally.”

The lorry driver has been questioned but has not been detained, officers added.

Mr Nigriello, who has worked for Unipart for 21 years, said this was only the second alleged illegal immigration incident he had known at the site.

The Home Office was alerted by the police and the men were last night due to be interviewed by immigration officers.