Border officials who detained two men after raiding a house in Walthamstow have denied rumours the borough's mayor was involved.

Home Office immigration enforcement agents visited the house near the junction of Carisbrooke and Northcote Roads shortly before 9.30am this morning.

They escorted the men, who the agency said were of Pakistani origin and had overstayed their visas, out of the house.

There were reports this morning that the officials had raided the home of Waltham Forest mayor Nadeem Ali, who lives on the junction of the two roads.

But a Home Office spokesman said: “There is no information suggesting that was the case.”

Cllr Ali said: “It was a neighbour. I only found out from my office at the town hall.

“The staff told me and I phoned home and confirmed what was going on and it was next door.”