Three stowaways travelling in a lorry from mainland Europe ended up in a Ponders End Industrial Estate.

The men travelled in a lorry distributing goods for the French haulage company, Norbert Dentressangle, which arrived at the haulage firm Leggett Freightways Ltd, in Duck Lees Lane, at 5pm last Thursday.

The men were removed from the back of the vehicle by police and taken to Edmonton police station, where they were handed over to immigration authorities.

The French company transport industrial and retail goods all over Europe. They specialise in the haulage of refrigerated fruit and vegetables and the transport of powders, liquids and chemicals.

Paul Kirk, the manager of Leggett Freightways, said: "We receive goods from Europe via other carriers, to be distributed throughout the UK.

"This is happening to UK companies each and every day, with people coming over from mainland Europe."

The French driver heard noises from the back of the lorry as he pulled into the industrial estate. He informed staff at the estate who called police.

There are currently 3,500 asylum seekers in the borough waiting for their asylum status to be determined.

The cost of supporting asylum seekers in Enfield 2001/02 was £13.1 million. This was reclaimed in full by a government grant and not taken from council tax.

A Council Scrutiny Commission, made up of both Conservative and Labour councillors, has been set up to establish the facts about asylum seekers in Enfield. The report was set to be presented at a public meeting of the Joint Scrutiny Commission on Asylum Seekers last night.