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Three illegal Afghan immigrants have been arrested in Dover after they were caught trying to leave Britain.

They had sneaked into the back of a Polish lorry leaving Dover for France but were discovered when it braked suddenly, causing its load of timber to fall and pin one of them down.

The driver went to investigate after hearing noises from the back of his truck.

The other two men, who were also injured, were seen trying to run away.

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of the pressure group MigrationWatch, said yesterday: "It seems crazy to stop illegal immigrants leaving the country of their own free will.

"We would like to see an amnesty of departure so any illegal immigrant could leave, providing they were not wanted by police, as soon as they wish."

Sir Andrew added: "We do not need them here and we certainly do not need to pay for their removal."

Charlie Elphicke, 36, the Tories' prospective parliamentary candidate for Dover, said: "The Home Office is a complete shambles. Why are we stopping them from leaving?

"If they want to go, let them go. Why are we spending valuable resources in this way?

"We should be making sure our borders are secure against people who are trying to enter our country illegally and helping those who are here illegally to leave.

"It is ludicrous to prevent those wanting to leave to do so. The immigration system in this country is truly mad.

"No other country would run its immigration system the way we are. It's just an insane practice and highlights what a terrible-sorry state the Home Office is in."

Gwyn Prosser, 64, Labour MP for Dover and Deal, said: "I have heard of at least one gang that escorts illegal immigrants across the Channel, for which they pay a premium price, then the traffickers have to get back to France without having any relevant paperwork.

A Home Office spokesman said: "If they are failed asylum seekers we will be able to find their immigration background and there is a possibility of removal from the country.