Shoppers were startled by an immigration raid at nine restaurants in Westfield shopping centre.

Officers from the UK Border Agency stormed the packed food hall of the Shepherd’s Bush mall on Monday (Dec 16) at 2pm.

They arrested a total of 21 immigrants allegedly working illegally in the UK from eateries including Yo Me Sushi, Nando’s and Bamboo Basket.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Immigration enforcement officers carried out an operation at a shopping centre in west London in response to allegations of illegal working taking place within specific stores there.

“They arrested 21 individuals for various immigration offences.

“Our officers carry out hundreds of operations like this every year around London, and where we fined people who are in the UK illegally we will seek to remove them.”

The people arrested ranged in age from 21 to 44 years old and were nationals from countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Nigeria.

An employer could be fined up to £10,000 for each illegal worker or face criminal prosecution if it fails to carry out the right checks to work.