Six thousand Ukrainians have been illegally smuggled into Britain via ferries from Ireland, Spanish police have revealed.

Spain's national police force announced yesterday that they had smashed the biggest people-smuggling ring transporting Ukrainians into the European Union and to their final destination of Britain.

The gang successfully introduced 6,000 Ukrainians into Britain by issuing the immigrants with false ID documents and flying them into Ireland before catching a ferry to reach UK soil, police allege.

"The candidates were selected from Ukrainian citizens with economic problems, family responsibilities and the intention of leaving the country and travelling to the United Kingdom in search of a better future," a police statement said.

The immigrants passed through Poland and several other EU countries which make up the Schengen area before flying to Ireland.