A BUSINESS could be facing a penalty of up to £40,000 after two employees were found to have entered the UK illegally.

Home Office Immigration officers raided The Turkish Barbers in Dovercourt High Street on Friday acting on intelligence they had received.

After carrying out checks on the staff it was revealed that two Turkish men, aged 29 and 27, had entered the UK without permission.

They have now been taken into immigration detention while their cases are dealt with and face removal from the UK if they are found to have no right to remain in the country.

The business could now been forced to pay up to £20,000 for each of the illegal workers.

To avoid a civil penalty the owners must demonstrated appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document.

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 08000 555 111.