Cheshire West and Chester Council has expressed surprise after it was stung with a £45,000 fine for what the Home Office described as "employing an illegal worker".

The Government has published a list of businesses and other organisations it has hit with financial penalties for reportedly hiring staff who had no right to work in the UK.

On the list is Cheshire West and Chester Council, which was handed a fine of £45,000.

The Home Office said that following a routine data share with HMRC, a civil penalty of £45,000 was issued to the council on November 10 last year, for employing what it said was 'one individual with no right to work in the UK'.

Civil penalty notices can include fines of up to £45,000 per illegal worker for an initial breach, rising to a maximum of £60,000 for repeat offences.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Illegal working undermines honest employers, undercuts local wages, and fuels organised immigration crime. This Government will not stand for it."

She added: "Since coming into power, we have increased immigration enforcement action to the highest level in British history. This has delivered an 83 per cent rise in illegal working arrests and 77 per cent rise in raids."

But the council said it is currently none the wiser about the fine or about what it is for.

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In a statement, a council spokesperson, said: "We have no knowledge or record of illegal workers and we are currently in the process of contacting the Home Office."

When asked for further clarification, the Home Office referred the LDRS to its original statement. The council has been contacted for further comment.