Several groups of African children may have arrived in Belfast in a shipping container

Claims several groups of children arrived in Belfast in shipping containers are currently being investigated by police.

Up to 50 people could have arrived in the containers with the children, who are believed to be Eritrean and have been discovered in different locations across the city since August 2.

It is understood that six were discovered in the harbour area of the city in the second week of October, while three others presented themselves to the authorities the following week.

According to both police and health sources, some of those children claimed they had arrived in the city in a shipping container containing "up to 50 people". 

Police are currently working to establish if these claims can be substantiated, but it is understood the officers are yet to find "hard evidence" to verify the accounts.

The young people are currently being cared for by health authorities in the city, with some in the care of children's homes. 

A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokeswoman said: "We are liaising with the relevant health trust to understand the circumstances around a number of unaccompanied children who have been taken into the care of social services.

"Our first priority is the safety and wellbeing of the children involved."