POLICE have dismissed claims on social media about “males exiting a lorry” near Cullompton and a “female seen in distress being taken by police to a hotel”.

Devon and Cornwall Police said officers were called just before 12.45pm on Thursday, July 30 to a “report of a non-English-speaking female in distress”.

They arrested her on suspicion of immigration offences, and Immigration Enforcement is now investigating how she came to be in the UK, the force added.

Inspector Mark Arthurs of Devon and Cornwall Police said: “We have been made aware of a social media post circulating which describes a number of males exiting a lorry near Cullompton and a female seen in distress being taken by police to a hotel.

“We would like to reassure the public that this does not reflect the information given to the police or the actions taken.

“Witnesses have been spoken to by officers and have stated that no vehicle was seen by them and no other persons were seen in the area running from a vehicle or otherwise.”

If you have any information about the incident and are yet to speak with police, telephone 101 or get in touch online quoting log 0384 of July 30.