A care provider in Cornwall has been accused of running a modern slavery operation as staff say they paid up to £20,000 to be sponsored by the company so they could come to the UK. CornwallLive has spoken to three workers of Miracle Care Centre who each said they paid their life savings to an agent acting on behalf of the employer, which has an office in Redruth.

The workers, all from poor and underdeveloped countries, say they were threatened by their bosses, who they named to CornwallLive as Brenda and Petra Omoruyi, that if they spoke out they would be fired, reported to the Home Office, and deported. Two of the workers said they struggled to sign up for shifts and were terminated by the company, and the third said she worked round the clock and was barely paid.

She claimed deductions were made for 'poor performance', lodging costs and at other times her pay was withheld with no explanation. The woman, who asked to remain anonymous so we'll refer to her as Worker A, said she was paid just £1,200 for all the work she completed between August and October - when she worked 11-hour shifts six days a week...

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police have received information about possible exploitation linked to workers in the Redruth area and are carrying out enquiries to understand the full circumstances around this information...

Cornwall Council has now confirmed it will no longer be working with Miracle Care Centre. A spokesperson said: "Cornwall Council have ended their relationship with Miracle Care..."