IMMIGRATION officers have carried out an intelligence-led enforcement visit to a Prudhoe restaurant.

On Thursday, July 21, officers from North East, Yorkshire and Humber Immigration Enforcement visited Oli and Joes, on the town's South Road.

The Italian restaurant opened in October 2020 on the site of the former Fox and Hounds pub.

The pub had closed earlier that year after the brewery that owned the building sold it.

The Oli and Joes brand has four other restaurants in its portfolio, with outlets across Whickham, Gosforth, Sunniside and Westerhope.

The Home Office would not reveal the outcome of the visit to the Courant, but a spokeswoman said: “The Government is tackling illegal immigration and the harm it causes by removing those with no right to be in the UK.

“We continue to work with law enforcement agencies to tackle illegal migration in all its forms. Our New Plan for Immigration will fix the broken system; making it fair to those in genuine need and firm on those who seek to abuse it.”

Oli and Joes Prudhoe branch manager Aref Lusha said: "They came, they did their job and they got out.

"I'm not against them, they do their own job. To be honest, I want to thank them for coming here and checking everything's alright."