London, Aug 31 - Police have arrested a British man who tried to sell his sister to an illegal immigrant.

Michael Wright, a 22-year-old man from Swindon, tried to sell his 24-year-old sister, who has learning difficulties, to a 33-year-old Chinese man in order to help him gain British residency.

But the sham marriage was prevented when police raided the registrar's office in the city of Reading, Berkshire, and arrested Wright and three Chinese men last week.

The woman, who has not been named, is now in the care of social services.

The raid comes amid increasing attempts by British home office authorities to crack down on illegal immigration.