LORRY drivers fear attacks from desperate stowaways as East Lancashire transport firms today called for urgent action to tackle the refugee problem in Europe.

In the last fortnight alone at least 80 stowaways have been found hidden in trailers operated by East Lancashire transport companies.

And every local haulage firm involved in continental travel contacted by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph confirmed they had suffered problems with refugees.

Already one firm has told drivers not to check lorries on their own for fear of physical attack by refugees desperate to reach Britain.

And as well as posing a risk to their drivers bosses believe the problem could start to have a seriously damaging effect on their livelihoods.

Drivers are also concerned that amid rumours of some being offered money to take people across the channel the finger will be pointed at them.

The break up of the Soviet Union and the former Yugoslavia, and the current crisis in Kosovo has led to stowaways breaking into trailers at ports and Channel Tunnel terminals. One East Lancashire haulier found 20 Albanian stowaways in the back of one of their trailers returning from France.

"The driver saw a hand coming out of the side of the trailer. He didn't want to risk stopping so called the police up on his mobile and the escorted him until they stopped," said Jim Rowland, CP Freight Ltd, of Bacup. In another incident with the same firm 12 stowaways were found in hiding a trailer paper reels.

CSH Transport & Forwarding, of Great Harwood, have had three incidents - including one where the unfortunate stowaways ended up going back where they had come from!

"They got on the trailer at Calais not realising the driver was on his outbound journey!" said the firm.

As reported in last night's Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Wilfrid Holden Transport, Blackburn, has been at the centre of a second stowaways swoop by police in just over a week.

The Road Haulage Association said they were urging action at the highest levels.

"It is a very well planned, well organised criminal activity of gangs trafficking in human misery," said spokesman Daniel Hodges.

"It would he hard-hearted of anyone to deny the stowaways themselves the change to better their lives, but the fact is it is threatening the livelihoods of our members."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.