A £14,000 fine slapped on a lorry driver who handed stowaways to the authorities has ignited fierce criticism of penalties.

Tony Davison, 53, of Tow Law, was fined after telling Customs and Excise officers at Dover he suspected illegal immigrants were in his truck.

Seven people were found, and Customs officials confiscated Mr Davison's keys and passport, detained him in a secure room, and then presented him with a £14,000 fine.

Mr Davison, who had his vehicle searched at Calais, suspects they may have got on during the ferry crossing.

The Freight Transport Association said Mr Davison's case was far from unique.

Drivers can be fined £2,000 for every stowaway found, and further penalties can be heaped upon their haulage firms.

It only becomes an offence once they have driven off the ferry.

Peter Cook, of Durham road haulage company, Peter Cook Transport, said there had been instances where its drivers had refused to drive off the Eurostar, after they suspected immigrants had crept on board their vehicle.

He said: "Drivers are constantly being pestered and sometimes threatened by immigrants who are getting into their vehicles.

"It happens with the Tunnel. People get on from the French end when it's going slowly. They climb into the vehicles while the driver is in the driver's car.

"We've had people who've returned to their vehicles, seen evidence that people have been, and refused to come off the train until they're exonerated of any blame. It's a bad system and it's unfair."