A RESTAURANT manager has defended his business after an immigration raid found three men were in the UK illegally.

The men were being employed at Plum Valley in Newland Street, Witham, an Indian and Chinese restaaurant.

Checks found two of the Bangladeshi men, 33 and 29, had overstayed their visas and a Chinese man, 38, had entered the UK illegally.

The man have been bailed to report to the Home Office while work to remove them from the country is carried out.

The restaurant is facing a fine of up to £10,000 for each of the workers unless it can prove the correct pre-employment checks were carried out.

Abdul Mohith, 40, Plum Valley’s manager, said: “We will defend our case.

“We’re sending letters to show these people were here legally.

“The children who are born and brought up in this country don’t go into the catering industry because it’s unsociable hours.

“There’s a real shortage of staff.”

The premises was raided by Home Office enforcement officers.