TWO men have been arrested after UK Border Agency staff swooped on an Indian takeaway.

The raid took place at the Spice of Romsey eatery in Viney Avenue, Romsey, on Friday at 6pm – an hour after it opened for business.

The proprietor, Taris Ali, said one of the men detained was helping out at the restaurant and the other was merely visiting the staff.

Mr Ali said Indian restaurants were finding it increasingly difficult to find staff, adding: “We normally employ regular staff but one of our people was on holiday and we needed an extra pair of hands.

“We found someone who was able to help us out on the evening.

“He arrived just before we opened and we didn’t have time to check his paperwork, but we’d spoken to him on the phone and he assured us everything was OK. It was a silly mistake and I guess I’m going to have to pay for it.

“The other man just happened to be visiting us and was still here when the immigration people arrived.”

In the past few years UK Border Agency staff looking for illegal workers have carried out a series of raids on restaurants and takeaways across Hampshire. In several cases employees were found to have outstayed their visas.

The Spice of Romsey, which opened in 2001 and was recently refurbished, is one of Romsey’s most popular eateries.

A Border Agency spokesman was unavailable for comment.