Two men were found to have been in the UK illegally after immigration officers raided a Carlisle city centre barbers.

A spokesman for the Home Office confirmed that, acting on intelligence, Immigration Enforcement officers visited the Top Cut barber shop on Botchergate on Saturday morning.

"Two men from Iraq, aged 30 and 29, were identified as illegally in the UK with no right to work," the Home Office spokesman said. "They must report regularly to the Home Office while their cases are dealt with.

"Top Cut was served a civil penalty referral notice which warns that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker could be imposed, unless the employer can demonstrate that appropriate right-to-work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work.

"This is a potential total of up to £40,000."

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can provide information to the Home Office by visiting www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime, or by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.