Bedraggled foursome spark immigrant probe

The foursome, all of "Chinese" appearance were wandering on the Normans Bay road near the Star Inn at about 4.30am.

Police said the four were "damp and sand-covered and smelled strongly of petrol."

They spoke no English but indicated by gesture that they were tired.

Police took the suspected illegal immigrants to Eastbourne where they were later interviewed by immigration officials and detained.

Inspector Max Mosley said the police action gave the lie to frequent complaints that there was no police presence in the Herbrand Walk area.

The foreshore between Cooden Beach and Pevensey Bay is especially lonely and remote in Winter. It has been the haunt of smugglers since ancient times.

In January 1995 it was the scene of the dramatic end to one of the largest international police anti-drug operations ever.

A dinghy laden with 34m worth of cocaine from Colombia was intercepted while attempting to bring the drugs ashore from a motor cruiser. The gang responsible was later jailed for a total of 122 years.