A man has been charged with an immigration offence over the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants found in a lorry.

Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga, 27, of Hobart Road, Tilbury, allegedly committed the offences between May, 1 2018 and October 24, 2019.

He is due at Basildon Magistrates' Court later today.

The 31 men and eight women were found in a refrigerated trailer in Grays on October 23, 2019.

Last month, a preliminary cause of death was given as a combination of suffocation and overheating in an enclosed space.

Several people have been arrested in connection with the deaths and an alleged people-trafficking ring, including the lorry driver Maurice Robinson, of Craigavon, County Armagh.

At the Old Bailey in November 2019, he admitted conspiring to assist illegal immigration and acquiring criminal property.

Three other men have also been charged in relation to the deaths.

Last month seven people were arrested and charged in Vietnam for "organising or broking others to flee abroad or stay abroad illegally".

Detectives are continuing their investigations and urge any Vietnamese nationals who may have entered the country illegally via Purfleet in October 2019 to assist with their enquiries.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith said: “We believe that a number of other people travelled into the UK in a similar way to the 39 deceased throughout the month of October and we hope that these people would be able to help us.

“We understand that there may be concerned about coming forward and sharing their experiences, but we can assure you that your information and details will be treated in confidence.”

Please call Rayleigh’s Major Crime Team on 101 if you can help, or you can submit information, including videos and photos, through our public portal here https://mipp.police.uk/operation/4201020119P15-PO1