THIS is the moment four illegal migrants climbed out of the roof of a removal lorry before strolling off into the Essex countryside.
The shocking video filmed by passing motorists shows the men emerging one by one through a hole cut into the roof as it sat in a layby in Maldon.
Suspected migrants caught on video hopping out of a lorry in Maldon, Essex Credit: Facebook
The lorry had crossed the Channel Tunnel at 4pm yesterday (stock image) Credit: UKNIP
They are then seen in the footage climbing down out of the lorry and walking away down the A414 carrying bags.
The vehicle had travelled from Malaga in and was carrying a homeowner’s possessions to the UK.
It is believed the men sneaked aboard while the vehicle was parked in Rouen, , after cutting open the roof to get inside.
The truck had already crossed into Britain through the Channel Tunnel and was just yards from its final destination when the migrants made their escape at around 4pm yesterday.
Cops rushed to the scene and arrested the driver, a Portuguese man in his 60s, on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry into the UK.
The lorry was also impounded.
But the four men managed to flee before officers arrived and remain outstanding.
The lorry was being operated by a Portuguese haulage firm on behalf of Algarve Removals, a family-run business based in Maldon that helps customers relocate between the UK, Spain and .
Company director John Scott said the driver had travelled around 1,150 miles from the Malaga area before stopping for a break in Rouen.
He believes the men climbed onto the vehicle before cutting through the roof and hiding among customers’ belongings.
Mr Scott told the Daily Mail : “These guys have climbed up onto the roof, not sure how, maybe used a ladder. They’ve gone through the roof.
“They’ve sat on other people’s goods, there’s stuff missing, there’s urine everywhere in the truck, it’s just a disgusting situation.”
He said the lorry was later checked by French before boarding a Eurotunnel train at Calais.
Mr Scott said officers used a sniffer dog and inspected the seals and rear doors, but allegedly failed to spot the damaged roof.
The driver then continued to Folkestone before heading to the company’s base in Maldon.
Because the depot was busy, he pulled into a nearby layby on the A414, where the men climbed out and walked off.
Mr Scott said: “All our trucks are fitted with security devices. Our problem is we have to stop at some point along the routes and what we’re finding is the attempts to get in our trucks are getting worse and worse.”
He said his family business has operated for 30 years and moves around 6,000 people to Spain and Portugal every year.
Mr Scott added that repairs to the damaged lorry are expected to cost around £3,000.
He also confirmed the vehicle had been seized by police and said Algarve Removals was taking responsibility despite the truck being operated by a third-party contractor.
An Police spokeswoman said: “We were called to reports of around four people seen running from a lorry in a layby on the A414 in Maldon at just before 4pm yesterday.
“Officers quickly attended and searched the area.
“One person, a man in his 60s, has been arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry into the UK.
“He is currently in custody and our enquiries are continuing.”
The force has appealed for anyone with information or video footage to come forward, quoting incident 877 of August 3.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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