A Polish lorry driver has been charged after customs officers at Ramsgate ferry terminal found around two million cigarettes stashed in his lorry.

Dariusz Krysinski, 47, was stopped by HM Revenue and Customs as he attempted to enter the country.

His vehicle, a Polish-registered lorry, was said to contain wood for windows to be delivered to an address in Scotland, but when officers searched the vehicle, they discovered 36 pallets, each containing 57,600 cigarettes.

Mr Krysinski was charged with duty evasion totalling £320,000. He appeared at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on Monday where he pleaded not guilty. He has been remanded in custody and will next appear before magistrates at Dover on Thursday.

Bev Morgan, HM Revenue & Customs spokesman, said: "This latest seizure shows we have active and robust teams operating at the ports.

"The proceeds from cigarette smuggling are often used to fund serious and organised crime such as drug smuggling."