Two migrants have died after their small boat got into difficulties in the English Channel this morning, as hundreds of others crossed into UK waters on Sunday.
French and British vessels rushed to the scene in French waters, just after 8am.
The migrant boat got into trouble about seven miles from the French port of Calais.
British lifeboats from Dover and Walmer were called in by French maritime authorities to help in the operation.
GB News can confirm that hundreds of other migrants made the illegal voyage into UK waters todayGB NEWSMore than 50 people were rescued and transferred to the French support vessel Mink.
Two of those rescued were found to be unresponsive and despite the efforts of medics, they were declared dead at the scene.
The search and rescue operation has now been stood down.
As it was returning to port, the Dover lifeboat picked up another 70 migrants from a separate small boat that crossed into UK waters.
GB News can confirm that hundreds of other migrants made the illegal voyage into UK waters today, in up to half a dozen small boats.
Maritime sources believe around 500 migrants have attempted to make the crossing on Sunday, with as many as 400 reaching UK waters.
Before today’s arrivals, official figures revealed that 17,638 migrants had made it to the UK so far this year, significantly up on the numbers arriving at this point last year.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings, which are undermining border security and putting lives at risk.
“The new Government is taking steps to boost our border security, setting up a new Border Security Command which will bring together our intelligence and enforcement agencies, equipped with new counter-terror style powers and hundreds of personnel stationed in the UK and overseas, to smash the criminal smuggling gangs making millions in profit.”