A restaurant where five illegal workers were caught on Monday has said it believed they had valid work permits.

Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers raided Lal Akash restaurant in Leatherhead High Street at about 2pm on Monday.

Four Bangladeshi men, aged 23 to 52, were arrested for over-staying their visas and a fifth man, who has an outstanding case, was escorted from the restaurant.

The restaurant could face a fine of up to £10,000 per illegal worker if unable to prove right-to-work checks were correctly performed.

A restaurant worker told the Epsom Guardian yesterday that his manager was abroad in Bangladesh but was dealing with the issue.

He said: “They are saying it was illegal, but as far as we are concerned and as far as we know they had permits to work.”

When asked how the restaurant is coping with the loss of staff, he said: “We have covered it up.”