Police are appealing for lorry drivers to check their trailers after a distress call was made by someone claiming to be in the back of a vehicle.

The call was made at 8.30am this morning (May 6) from someone who said they were in the back of a white lorry on the A414 at North Weald.

Police investigations have established the lorry they were travelling in was in Ashford in Kent at 7.07am this morning.

However officers do not know any more about the vehicle or where it may be heading.

Drivers of white lorries, who have come in from the continent and travelled into Kent, are asked to pull over when it is safe and check their trailers.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "At this stage officers do not know any more about the vehicle or where it may be heading.

"Please pull over when it is safe and check your trailers.

"If you find any people contact police as soon as possible."

Anyone with further information is asked to call Essex Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.