Asylum seekers in Norway are hiding in containers or using false documents to board the ferry from Kristiansand to Newcastle, according to authorities in Scandinavia.

A spokesman for DFDS Seaways ferry company said there had been an upsurge in those trying to smuggle themselves into the North East over the past six months.

Lief Mikkelson of DFDS said they had been aware of problems over the past year, but that the company had stepped up its security measures.

The police in Norway are now searching trailers and containers before every departure to Tyneside, while staff are on the lookout for irregular documents.

People have attempted to travel to Newcastle using false documents on more or less every departure

Agder police spokesman

Vidar Andersen, head of the aliens' section in Agder police district in Norway, said: "We are also using the technical aids we have to reveal false passports and identification documents.

"Recently we have noticed that people have attempted to travel to Newcastle using false documents on more or less every departure."

The ferry which operates between Newcastle, Kristiansand and Gothenburg, travels from Kristiansand to Newcastle every Thursday and Sunday.

Counterfeit passports used include fake Belgian, Portuguese, and Danish documents.

'Difficult issue'

DFDS says it is being fined �1,000 for every asylum seeker who manages to get to the UK illegally.

Mr Mikkelson said: "We have been increasing our security measures to tackle the problem.

"We are trying to ensure that nobody gets on board, but it is a difficult issue, because we have a lot of passengers who are travelling on a legal basis.

"If we arrive with someone on board who should not be there, then we are charged �1,000."