Multiple immigrants ‘in desperate need of water’ have been discovered in the back of two lorries as police have shut down part of the M4 services in Reading, the Chronicle understands. 

As many as ten people have been found inside the large vehicles that were stopped by Thames Valley Police this evening as officers rushed into the busy motorway services to get supplies to help them with an ‘emergency incident’ being triggered. 


This newspaper understands the lorries were travelling from Europe and pulled into the services around 5:30 pm after being followed by four marked police cars.


Speaking exclusively to the Chronicle, the source said: “Both HGVs are from the same company and are loaded refrigerated trailers.

Around 20 minutes after they were pulled into the services, I would say a good 10 people were taken out of the trailers.


“Police officers ran into Greggs and WHSmith’s and took dozens of bottles of water saying it was urgent and they had “critical patients who needed water”.”


Pictures from the scene show that emergency services including multiple police, fire and ambulance crews remain at the site as the two trailers are searched and unloaded.


Police have assured the public via social media that there is ‘no risk to the public’ but to please avoid the area while they deal with the incident.