Officials have confirmed extra workers are to be taken on to help check the paperwork of lorry drivers heading to Europe after Brexit.

Highways England played down reports it is recruiting additional staff who have no experience after job adverts appeared online suggesting none would be required.

A recruitment agency described the jobs on offer as needing no experience with the main task of those taken on "to check lorry drivers and ensure that they have the appropriate documentation with them".

According to reports, workers would be based along the M20 near Maidstone, with three eight-hour shifts ensuring the road is patrolled around the clock.

In a statement, Highways England said it would provide training to workers taken on and that there was no intention of them carrying out the same duties as its traffic officers.

"We have taken on the additional task of helping the government with pre-border readiness checks on the M20, if they are needed," it said.

"The arrangements include limited additional powers for our traffic officers, but these are specific to Operation Brock and we do not have an enforcement role.

"We may need additional temporary staff to assist us with this, but they will not be carrying out the day-to-day duties of our traffic officers and will have appropriate training."

There was no question those taken on would be carrying out customs checks as these would remain with Border Force officers, a spokesman for Highways England added.

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