Langley Green has one of the highest percentages of ethnic minorities in the South-East.

Almost a quarter of people on the red-brick estate describe themselves as Asian or British Asian, according to the last UK Census in 2001. Most are Hindu or Muslim and many are employed at Gatwick.

Ward councillor James Smith, 76, has lived in the area most of his life.

He said: "I don't know why we have a lot of people from ethnic minorities coming here.

"It's probably the same reasons as people like myself settled - they liked what they saw and told their family and friends."

A converted house in Langley Green serves as the area's mosque and there are plans for a purpose-built one.

Mr Smith said: "Most people seem to get on and all the immigrants play a role in the life of the neighbourhood.

"Obviously attitudes vary from one family to another but there haven't really been any problems."

The area has hit the headlines in the past for negative reasons.

Last year chef Jose Pestana, who lived yards from the internet cafe thought to be at the centre of yesterday's arrests, hatched a plot to bomb a restaurant at Gatwick.

The 41-year-old Portuguese national was jailed for ten years last October for planning a revenge attack on Garfunkel's restaurant after he was forced to quit following an accident at work.

Police discovered crude home-made explosives under a sofa in his flat in Langley Parade when they went to investigate illegal use of electricity.

Roy Whiting, who is serving a life sentence for the abduction and murder of schoolgirl Sarah Payne, grew up in Langley Green before moving to Littlehampton.

The former mechanic was often seen working on vehicles on the road outside his home in Martyrs Avenue.