INDUSTRIAL estates are fast becoming a hotspot for lorry drivers to park for free overnight - giving illegal immigrants a “free ride”, bosses fear.

Senior councillors believe illegal immigrants are treating the town as an “easy way out” and are taking advantage of lorry drivers who do not pay for their parking.

This comes as ten suspected illegal immigrants fled lorries at Cranes Farm Road in two separate occasions, since Wednesday.

Four people, including two teenagers, were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences on Monday.

Kerry Smith, deputy leader of Basildon Council, told the Echo around 20 lorries a night are parking for free at the Southfields industrial estate in Laindon. He said: “We need traffic wardens down there.

“A lot of drivers are using the car parks for free.

“Basildon is being used as free car park for lorry drivers.

“This is the main problem behind why we’re seeing more incidents like this.

“Parking wardens are not checking why they are parking beyond 6pm.”

Six men were seen breaking out of a lorry roof on Cranes Farm Road on Wednesday last week, with witnesses saying the men ran towards the nearby Festival Leisure Park.

No arrests were made.

Following a similar incident on Monday, a spokesman from Essex Police, said: “Four people have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences after a number of people were seen leaving a lorry in Cranes Farm Road, Basildon.

“It happened at around midday. Two boys – aged 15 and 16 – and two men – aged 21 and 25 – were arrested.”

Stephen Metcalfe, MP for East Basildon and Thurrock, added: “If this is a serious problem, parking enforcement needs to be taken.

“It’s a battle. A lot of work is being at our ports and at London Gateway to check for irregularities.

“We need to do much much more but great efforts are being made.”

Lorry drivers, as part of the south Essex Parking Partnership, have to pay a fee to park.

The south Essex Parking Partnership, ran by Chelmsford Council, was contacted for comment.