A POLICE team swooped on a coach carrying 35 workers following a tip-off that suspected illegal immigrants were working for a company in York.

The major operation - involving more than 15 police as well as teams of Immigration and Benefits Agency officials - took place on the outskirts of York, near Skelton.

The Evening Press received calls from eye-witnesses who spotted the operation in full swing.

A reporter arrived to find that a coach, believed to be from the Leeds area, had been directed into a lay-by on the A19, Shipton Road, about 50 yards from the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, at about 3.30pm yesterday.

A police spokesman said no arrests were made, but ten people were subject to Benefits Agency and immigration inquiries.

Meanwhile, in a second operation on the A19 near Thirsk, five people were detained at Northallerton Police Station under the Immigration Act after officers stopped and checked 50 casual workers travelling on a double-decker bus.

A 22-year-old man from Zimbabwe was arrested in connection with a possible breach of immigration regulations, while the other four were released without charge.

The Evening Press saw several men of Eastern European or Middle Eastern appearance being questioned in the Skelton lay-by by immigration officials carrying clipboards.

Road Policing Group officer Sergeant Graham Carroll directed the York operation.

He told the Evening Press at the scene: "We had a tip-off that several illegal immigrants were working for a York business and have conducted an investigation in conjunction with the Immigration service and Benefits Agency.

"We escorted the coach into the lay-by to check the details of the workers travelling on it."

One witness, who asked not to be named, told the Evening Press: "I couldn't believe it when we drove past - there were police officers everywhere.

"I saw a group of foreign-looking people being interviewed at the front of the coach."

The police spokesman said benefits and immigration checks in the area were not uncommon following tip-offs.

"We know there are illegal immigrants working in the area," he said.

"In the past these spot checks have discovered a lot of benefit fraud."

Updated: 10:54 Wednesday, October 17, 2001