Little Common restaurant raided again

Officers from the Border and Immigration Agency arrested two men, a 27-year-old and a 34-year-old at the Peking Garden, off Barnhorn Road, at around 8pm.

A spokesman for the Home Office said both men were Chinese nationals and neither had permission to work in the UK. Steps will now be taken to remove them from the country.

It is the second such raid at the Peking Garden this year.

In July, seven people were arrested on alleged immigration offences.

Customers were informed by staff they could no longer be served after Monday night's raid.

Hannah Hammond, who was eating at the restaurant, said: "We were sitting for about half-an-hour and we were thinking about going, but the police said it wouldn't be long. But the waiter said, 'I'm sorry I can't give you anything else.'

"There was about 10 of us all together (in the restaurant)."

Border and Immigration Agency regional director for London and the south east, Tony Smith, said: "I am absolutely committed to rooting out people working illegally in Bexhill. Immigration officers are focusing on gathering hard intelligence and acting on it to ensure our laws are not abused.

"We have teams throughout the country who visit businesses to ensure they are not breaking the law."

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to ensure they don't employ illegal workers can visit www.employingmigrantworkers.org.uk or call the Border and Immigration Employers Helpline on 0845 010 6677.