A LORRY delivering to Bentley Motors was at the centre of a police alert when a suspected illegal immigrant was found in the back as it reversed down a Crewe street.

The driver, believed to be German, took a wrong turn and ended in Hulme Street where he asked for directions.

Resident Yvonne Davies called the police after spotting a hand waving from a slit in the back of the vehicle.

Neighbours saw the drama unfold as police descended and revealed the lorry contained a stowaway.

The young man, at first reported to be an Iraqi, was taken to Crewe Police Station before being handed over to immigration authorities.

Mother-of-two Mrs Davies said: 'You don't get this sort of thing happening everyday in Crewe but my father was a driver so I was aware of the risk of international trips.'

Neighbour Cath Mason said: 'A young lad, no more than 18, emerged, very smartly dressed. The driver didn't seem to know anything about his passenger and was visibly upset.'

Bentley, which receives components and body shells from Germany, was unaware of Monday's incident until contacted by the Chronicle.

Spokeswoman Kay Morris said: 'We have every faith in our security personnel who are vigilant about vehicles passing through our gates. We receive components daily but such an incident wouldn't have passed by them.'

Police confirmed they attended Hulme Street at 9.30am where a male was detained on suspicion of making an illegal entry into the UK.

A spokesman said: 'He was taken to Crewe Police Station where the relevant immigration authorities were contacted. They arrived and the matter was then out of our hands.'

A Home Office spokesman said an investigation was under way to determine the stowaway's status.