Dozens of workers at burger chain Byron, which has several branches across south London, have been arrested in a swoop by immigration officials.

The Home Office said 35 people from Albania, Brazil, Nepal and Egypt were arrested for immigration offences at a number of restaurants across the capital.

It added that the operation was carried out with the "full co-operation" of Byron earlier this month.

The arrests have divided customers on social media.

Some people have threatened to boycott the restaurants following the revelations and an event has been created on Facebook calling on people to picket outside the Greenwich branch of the chain.

The burger business carried out the correct "right to work" checks on staff members, but had been shown false or counterfeit documentation, and will therefore not face civil penalty action, the Home Office said.

A Byron statement said: "We can confirm that several of Byron's London restaurants were visited by representatives of the Home Office.

"These visits resulted in the removal of members of staff who are suspected by the Home Office of not having the right to work in the UK, and of possessing fraudulent personal and right to work documentation that is in breach of immigration and employment regulation."

The business added: "We have co-operated fully and acted upon the Home Office's requests throughout the course of the investigations leading to this action, and will continue to do so."

The burger chain said the Home Office recognises that as an employer Byron is "fully compliant with immigration and asylum law in its employment practices".

The Home Office said: "Immigration Enforcement officers carried out intelligence-led visits to a number of Byron restaurants across London on July 4, arresting 35 people for immigration offences.

"The operation was carried out with the full co-operation of the business."

A spokesman for the Home Office dismissed reports that an event was set up to lure workers to one place for immigration officials.