A County Durham car wash has been fined £80,000 for employing illegal workers.

Immigration enforcement workers found illegal staff when they turned up at The Express Hand Car Wash in Coxhoe.

The firm, on Station Road, was visited and ordered to pay a penalty of £80,000, according to a Home Office list published last week.

The car wash is one of 14 North East businesses named on the list, which details penalties issued between April and June.

Coxhoe Hand Car Wash LTD (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

According to the report, the Coxhoe business was found to be employing workers who either had no permission to work in the UK or were in breach of visa restrictions.

The car wash did not respond to a request for comment.

Employers can face unlimited fines and up to five years in prison if they fail

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