A COUPLE from a wealthy Hampshire village have been arrested for allegedly keeping a Polish builder as a slave in their garden shed for four years.

The frail Polish man told authorities he was being forced to carry out building work by the British pair in exchange for out of date food.

He revealed to staff at an NHS walk-in centre that he had no flushing toilet and that the 54-year-old man and 56-year-old woman had only given him a plastic sun lounger to sleep on.

Officers from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) raided an address in leafy Chilworth and found evidence of "disgusting and degrading" living conditions.

The village, near Southampton, is home to several footballers and boasts properties worth more than £2million.

The "vulnerable" Polish man, who has not been named, told GLAA officers he has been forced to live in the freezing concrete shed for four years.

During that time, it is alleged he had just a fridge and barbecue to use as a kitchen and had been kept to carry out building work.

Officers said they seized evidence which may "prove critical" to the investigation.

GLAA senior investigating officer Tony Byrne said: "First and foremost, we are pleased that the man is now receiving the help and support he so desperately needs.

"In the 21st century, no-one should be forced to live in such degrading and disgusting conditions.

"We received a referral from a local walk in centre who had spotted the signs, the individual was vulnerable, he wasn't responding as expected and so they reported their findings to us.

"Two persons have been arrested. There's a large amount of building work which corroborates what our potential victim has told us.

"Just down the bottom of the garden there in a concrete shed, it's absolutely freezing in there, there's no bedding and no sanitary conditions there at all, there's no toilet.

"It's poor conditions that that individual has allegedly been living in for four years.

"Following the two arrests we made, our investigation is ongoing as we examine and assess the evidence we collected from the property.

"I would also like to praise the NHS staff who reported their concerns. It’s really important that people get in touch if they believe someone is being exploited."

The GLAA confirmed the Polish man has been admitted to the National Referral Mechanism, a process for ensuring victims of modern slavery and human trafficking are given help and support.

Both suspects have also been released while investigations continue.