Armed police officers arrested four Iraqi Kurds suspected of importing illegal immigrants after a raid at a motorway junction in Nottinghamshire.

The operation, just off junction 26 of the M1, was the result of investigations carried out by police in the Humberside area and in France.

A Peugeot 405 car carrying the four, who did not resist arrest, was stopped at 4.20pm BST on Wednesday at the motorway junction in Barr Lane, Nottingham, by 15 officers using unmarked cars.

Superintendent Patrick Geenty, of Hull police, told BBC News Online: "The operation went very well indeed and we are grateful for the co-operation of Nottinghamshire police."

French extradition

He added: "It was a very well co-ordinated operation between two forces."

The group was arrested on suspicion of importing illegal immigrants and all four men were taken into custody in Nottingham.

Three of the men - a 21-year-old from Leicester and a 19-year-old and a 21-year-old from Plymouth - are now being held for questioning by police in Hull.

The fourth man, a 21-year-old, has been sent to London where moves are being taken to extradite him to France at the request of officers there.