An Indian restaurant could lose its licence after government officials repeatedly found staff working there illegally.

Lal Akash in New Malden High Street has been visited by the Home Office and local police three times since 2015, and in total five people without permission to work in the UK were found there: two in January 2015, two in December 2018, and one in February this year.

At the latest visit, officials spoke to a man in the kitchen who said he had told the manager, Jomirul Hoque, that he was in the country illegally.

Mr Hoque told immigration officers it was the man’s second day, and showed them a photocopy of a Portuguese passport – officials believed it was fake.

Now police have asked Kingston Council to revoke Lal Akash’s licence, which allows it to sell alcohol and play music.

The Licensing Sub-Committee will meet on May 1 to discuss the case.

Mr Hoque and Lal Akash could not be reached for comment.