FIVE illegal immigrants were caught by police in Sankey Bridges on Friday after escaping from a chemical delivery trailer at Unilever.

An eyewitness said he saw the five asylum seekers, from Afghanistan and Iran, burst out of the back of the wagon at around 4.30pm at the Unilever site on Liverpool Road.

He said: “They escaped along old railway lines, some towards Liverpool Road, some towards Arpley sidings.

“Unilever security were unable to stop them. Four were wearing jeans and T-shirts and one was wearing a suit.

“They left all their bags and other belongings in the chemical trailer.”

Paul Matthews, a spokesman for Unilever, confirmed that the men had been on the grounds of the company, which produces products for the food and beverage industry as well as home and personal care.

Mr Matthews said: “Upon discovering that unauthorised individuals had entered our Warrington site we immediately activated our security procedures and contacted the police to handle the situation.”

A police spokesman confirmed that five runaways had been arrested on suspicion of being illegal immigrants near to the Bowling Green Hotel on Old Liverpool Road.

The five men aged 16, 41, 45 and two aged 26, were handed over to the immigration services.

It is understood that the five men are looking to claim asylum, which is a lengthy process that could take months.