SIXTEEN Afghanis were discovered climbing out of the back of a lorry in Worcestershire after it dropped them off at the wrong depot.

The Home Office confirmed today two family groups and five individuals had claimed political asylum and were currently being relocated to different parts of the country.

They were found hidden in the back of the fruit delivery truck when it pulled into CBG Haulage in Blackminster, near Evesham.

About four of the 16 people attempted to escape by scrambling across the cargo, but concerned workers rushed to stop them falling from the large drop at the back of the box lorry.

"They were trying to jump down from the lorry, but it's a massive drop and they would've injured themselves," said CBG worker Martin Smith.

"One of the lads at the depot managed to speak to them and he confirmed they'd been in the vehicle for over two days.

"They told him they wanted to be dropped off in London where they had family and friends, but somehow they ended up in Evesham."

Workers at CBG immediately phoned police and eventually had to use a forklift truck and a pallet to lift them down from the vehicle.

"We thought there were just adults in the party but then we saw about three young children - one was 10 and the others looked around 13 or 14," said Mr Smith.

"The freezers weren't on in the lorry and the fruit was gradually beginning to turn warm and go bad when we eventually got them off."

He said the driver looked Spanish or Portuguese and did not seem concerned about the state of the passengers.

"He just stood by the door of his lorry talking on his mobile, until the police eventually came down to arrest him," he added.

Mr Smith said he was not shocked at seeing people in the back of the lorry because according to the experiences of friends in depots and the haulage business it "happens all the time".

Police arrested the driver at about 1.30pm on Tuesday, while the Afghanis were taken to Evesham Police Station where their welfare needs were met.

They were said to be in good health.