Ten irregular immigrants from Syria were picked up by an Italian frigate off the coast of Cyprus and were later transferred to Pournara late on Thursday.

The ten were picked up around 10am from a boat sailing 48 nautical miles off the coast of Cyprus, according to the Cyprus News Agency.

A team from the port and maritime police went to the Italian vessel to collect the passengers and escorted them to the port of Larnaca by 11pm.

Their information was recorded and they were transferred to the Pournara reception centre in Kokkinotrimithia.