The five men and three women managed to get past immigration officials, but were stopped by customs officers at Dover.

Two Poles, Ryszard Piatek, who claimed to be a priest, and Mieczyslaw Orzechowski, had tried to smuggle the group into the UK after picking them up at a service station in Lille in France.

Canterbury Crown Court was told the two men then gave differing accounts as to how they picked up the group.

What a coincidence to pick up five priests and three nuns at a service station at Lille just by chance

Mark Griffiths, prosecutor

Both deny a charge of facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants.

Martin Griffiths, prosecuting, said the group of nuns and priests had fake passports but actually came from Belarus and the Ukraine.

He said records showed both men had made previous trips abroad and the passports had been used on several occasions.

The court was told the pair drove the group in two cars to Calais then took a ferry to Dover on 8 July.

When the group arrived at immigration control Mr Piatek had handed over the Polish passports and a letter on behalf of his passengers.

Mr Griffiths said: "Mr Piatek described himself as a priest. Maybe he is a priest.

"What a coincidence to pick up five priests and three nuns at a service station at Lille just by chance."

The trial continues.