OWNERS of a Barrow car wash face a fine of £20,000 after a failed asylum seeker from Albania was caught working illegally.

Home Office officials raided The Strand car wash in Barrow, opposite Morrisons, after receiving tip-offs.

The government officers checked all members of staff to establish whether they had the right to live and work in the UK.

One man, a 25-year-old from Albania, was a failed asylum seeker working illegally and has been taken to a detention centre and will eventually be deported back to his home country.

The owners of the car wash now face paying a fine of £20,000 unless they can prove they checked the man's documents prior to giving him a job.

The Evening Mail visited the car wash and spoke to one of the two men who own and run the business.

The co-owner, who said he was from Iraq, said he was not aware of any employees being taken away. His business partner was away at the time and we have asked for him to contact the Evening Mail.

In a statement issued to the Evening Mail, the Home Office said: "Acting on intelligence, officers visited The Strand Car Wash, on The Strand, Barrow, on Friday, 23 September.

"Staff were questioned to establish whether they had the right to live and work in the UK.

"A 25-year-old Albanian man, found to be a failed asylum seeker, was arrested and is currently in immigration detention pending removal from the UK.

"The business was served a notice warning that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 will be imposed in relation to the illegal worker unless they can demonstrate that appropriate right to work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work."

A Home Office spokesperson, said: “We are working hard to tackle illegal working and those who abuse the UK’s immigration system.

“Illegal working is not a victimless crime. It cheats the taxpayer, meaning less money is available for vital public services, undercuts honest employers and denies legitimate job seekers employment opportunities. It also exploits some of society’s most vulnerable people.

“We expect everyone here illegally to leave the UK voluntarily. For those who don’t the message is clear - we will find, detain and remove you.”