A FAILED asylum seeker will be deported following a series of immigration raids at car washes.

The UK Border Agency targeted sites in Colchester Road, Great Bentley, and Tendring Park Services in Weeley and St Andrew’s Avenue, Colchester.

An agency spokesman said immigration checks were carried out on staff at all three businesses.

The checks revealed a 28-year-old Albanian man working in Great Bentley was in the country illegally. Arrangements were being made to remove him from the country.

The intelligence-led raids were carried out by officers from the Local Immigration Team for Suffolk and North East Essex on Thursday.

Immigration Officer Mark Gear said: “We are pleased to make arrests, but it is just as pleasing when we find businesses, as was the case with one on Thursday, that are following the immigration rules - that’s what we want to see.

“Operations like this encourage businesses to keep their houses in order.

“Illegal immigration puts pressure on public services, local communities and legitimate businesses at a time when this country cannot afford it.

“That’s why the UK Border Agency carries out operations like this to tackle demand for jobs which lure illegal immigrants to the UK in the first place.”

All the staff at Tendring Park Services were found to be living and working in the country legally.

Albanian Jetmir Gradica, 23, works at the car wash in Weeley with other foreign nationals, including Polish workers.

“We are doing it legally and all have insurance numbers,” he said.

“We want to work with the authorities to make sure we all have the correct papers.”