- Three migrants arrived at Southampton Docks on a ship overnight
- They tried to run away from security officials but were caught and arrested
- The port was closed for several hours causing long delays for lorry drivers
One of Britain's busiest shipping ports was shut down today when a group of suspected illegal immigrants tried to stow away on a ship.
Operations at Southampton Docks were suspended for several hours after customs officials spotted three intruders on the site early this morning.
The migrants tried to run away after their ship docked at the port, but were caught and arrested by police, who will now consider whether to deport them.
Shutdown: Southampton Docks closed for several hours after three illegal immigrants snuck in
After the three men were caught, the port was in lockdown while officials checked that there were no other migrants hiding on the premises.
Even after the port re-opened at 7am, lorry drivers had to wait for up to two and a half hours because of long delays caused by the earlier disruption.
It is not known where the three migrants are from, or what ship they stowed away on in order to get to Britain.
A spokesman for DP World, which owns the port, said: said: 'Overnight on August 11, 2015 three intruders were apprehended on site at DP World Southampton.
Chaos: The incident comes amidst rising tension in Calais, where migrants are pictured on the Eurostar tracks
'Terminal operations were suspended for a period of time whilst a complete site sweep was undertaken in conjunction with the police.
'All three intruders were arrested and the police are dealing with this matter further. Terminal operations resumed at 7am this morning.'
Hampshire police added: 'At 1.02am today police were called to DP World, at Southampton Docks to a report of people found hiding on the site.
'Officers attended and have arrested three people on suspicion of being illegally in this country.
'They have been taken into custody and a referral has been made to the UK Borders Agency.'
Confrontation: A group of migrants pictured confronting French riot police at the side of the road in Calais
If the migrants are found to have entered the country illegally, they will be deported to their home country.
The incident comes during a period of high tension over the ongoing chaos at the French port of Calais, where migrants have gathered to try and get to Britain via the Channel Tunnel.
Trains and lorries have repeatedly been targeted by desperate refugees hoping to hitch a lift under the Channel, repeatedly forcing authorities to shut the Tunnel down.
Dozens of migrants are believed to have made it to the UK - despite their legal duty to apply for asylum in the first EU country they get to.
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