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Two Afghan immigrants believed to play the role of enemy warlords as part of army training exercises at a Ministry of Defence base have been arrested for allegedly being in the UK illegally.

The two men, who were given guns that fire blanks to carry out pretend attacks on patrols across Salisbury Plain, were detained at Rolleston Camp, Wiltshire.

They were paid through contractors by the Ministry of Defence along with more than 200 other workers at the site.

One of them is suspected of being in the country illegally after his visa expired while the other is thought to be a failed asylum seeker.

The MoD has launched an investigation into how the men came to be working in the camp.

Iraq war veteran, Colonel Tim Collins, said: 'The UK is full of illegal immigrants which is a problem created by the last government, and it seems this Army base is no different.

'There should be serious questions asked about the company which provided these people to the Army.'

The pair were taken into custody at 8am on Tuesday by officers from MoD police and the UK Border Agency following a tip off.

A spokesman for the MoD said: 'MoD police in conjunction with the UK Border Agency have carried out an intelligence led operation on Salisbury Plain.

'Officers arrested two people on suspicion of immigration offences. They were taken to a nearby police station and handed over to the UK Border Agency.'

The Conservative MP Patrick Mercer added: 'The fact that defence money at a time like this can go on illegal immigrants is extraordinary.

'I don't doubt that ministers will want to know which Army officers or civil servants allowed this to happen.'

A UK Border Agency spokesman added: 'Two men from Afghanistan were arrested for immigration offences and they are being questioned at Salisbury police station.

'One was found to have stayed in the country illegally after his visa expired and the other is a failed asylum seeker.' dailymail.co.uk