Overcrowded house had spare mattresses in a garden toy play house
A multi-agency raid in Bridgwater has found 14 people living in a house big enough for five.
They even found spare mattresses in a toy play house in the garden
The 'Gang Masters and Labour Abuse Authority' are now carrying out an investigation.
Sedgemoor District Council Housing accompanied by officers from Avon and Somerset Police and the Gang Masters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), entered the property with a warrant to find that it was significantly overcrowded.
A spokesperson for the GLAA said: "The GLAA exists to protect vulnerable workers in the UK and this is a good example of multi-agency partnership working to achieve that aim.
"The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act requires people to have a licence to provide workers into agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering, food processing and associated packaging.
"It provides safeguards for those at risk of exploitation and ensures that workers get what they are lawfully entitled to. If we find evidence that our licensing scheme is not being followed, either deliberately or more simply through ignorance of the legislation, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action.
"Overcrowded accommodation can be just one of numerous indicators that individuals may be subjected to exploitative, unlawful and unethical practices.
"I would urge members of the public to familiarise themselves with the signs of labour exploitation and the ways in which they can report concerns (https://www.gla.gov.uk/media/5917/spotting-the-signs-mini-guide.pdf)."
Sedgemoor Council will be taking emergency action to limit the numbers in the property by serving a Prohibition Order.