TWO men were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences during a dramatic raid on a Highworth restaurant this afternoon.

Several police vehicles raced to Rafu's in the town 's High Street after receiving a call at 12.15pm from a partner agency, believed to be the Home Office.

The men, aged 26 and 49, are currently in custody.

UPDATED: A police spokeswoman said: "One person was located within the premises and one was outside."

A witness saw the police arrive at the scene while he was working at a nearby High Street business.

He said: "It was quite a shock, police were running around everywhere.

"There were six police cars here originally and a grey Immigration van was parked on the pavement in front of Rafu's.

"Some officers went in through the door of the building next to Rafu's, which is where the staff live."

A resident who wished to remain anonymous also saw some of the incident.

She said: "There was an undercover car, a few police cars, and a police van with dogs.

"Four officers went round the back of the restaurant through the alleyway that leads to St Michael's Church.

"Later, two cars drove off with their sirens blaring, the undercover car had gone and the grey van had left."

In a post on Rafu's facebook page, a spokesperson for the restaurant said: "I would like to put things straight before the rumours get out of hand.

"The police and immigration officers responded due to a hoax call, no drugs or illegal workers were found on the property.

"A person was arrested near the Co-op, that had nothing to do with Rafu’s Restaurant."

The restaurant has been a popular Highworth destination for more than 30 years.

Its namesake and former owner Rafu Miah was a beloved local legend who passed away suddenly in 2015.

This is the second time that a Highworth restaurant has been raided by police and Home Office immigration enforcement officials in recent months.

Two Bangladeshi men working at Spice Kitchen on Swindon Street who had overstayed their visa were arrested after a similar raid in late September last year.

The Indian restaurant's owners narrowly avoided losing its licence in December after Swindon Borough Council's licensing panel decided to let it continue trading under its current licensing arrangement, under the condition that no worker should be illegally employed and that the premises be subject to an unannounced inspection some time before February.