A Cheshire garage was wrongly named as an employer of illegal workers because of a Home Office blunder.

Earlier this week, the Home Office said immigration enforcement officers had arrested three Ghanian men at the M53 Ford garage, Rossmore Road East, Ellesmere Port .

It stated that all three had been been working illegally.

But the government department has now totally vindicated M53 Ford.

In a new statement, it said: “On Tuesday (September 6), the Home Office issued a press release stating that three Ghanaian men aged between 30 and 51-years-old had been arrested for working illegally at the Ford garage, Rossmore Road East, Ellesmere Port, on August 31.

“This was incorrect.

“The men, who are currently in detention pending removal from the UK, are believed to work for Falcon Car Care, an independent business that provides car valeting services.

“Falcon Car Care was served a notice warning that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found will 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 penalty of up to £60,000.”

Two of the men arrested, aged 30 and 32, are said to have overstayed their visit visas while it is claimed the third, aged 51, entered the UK illegally.

In a statement, M53 Ford said: “The three Ghanaian men are not and never have been employees of M53 Ford and any suggestion that M53 Ford has broken immigration law is wrong.

“M53 Ford has at no time employed illegal workers and at all times complies with right-to-work checks. Further M53 Ford is not under investigation by the Home Office.

“In relation to the Home Office investigation into the three Ghanaian men, M53 Ford complied with all reasonable requests made by the Home Office in order to assist that investigation.

“M53 Ford is extremely concerned that the Home Office chose to publish a press release which was misleading and reputationally damaging to M53 Ford, in circumstances in which M53 Ford had assisted with the investigation.

“M53 Ford is presently considering legal action against the Home Office in relation to this matter.”