Urgent Channel rescue underway with 'migrants in the water' as hundreds more attempt crossing

An air and sea rescue operation is underway in the English Channel after a migrant boat got into difficulties as it reached UK waters.

The Border Force Vessels Volunteer and Hurricane are on scene, with reports of some migrants in the water.

A coastguard helicopter and Dover and Walmer lifeboats are also heading to the area, just over 10 miles east of Dover.

The migrant boat is one of two that had been under escort by the French border patrol ships Ridens and Minck.

It got into difficulties just as it was handed over to the Border Force vessels, who were about to pick up the migrants.

The incident comes shortly after GB News revealed that at least 500 migrants have crossed into UK waters so far, with more boats launching from the French coast.

Almost 1,100 had also entered the UK illegally via small boats on Saturday alone.

As Cabinet colleagues describe new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood as "hard as nails", people smugglers appear to have ignored her tough stance.

On Ms Mahmood's first full day in office, smugglers sent 1,097 migrants towards the UK.

Today, before dawn, they launched several migrant rafts from beaches around Calais and Dunkirk.

The illegal migrant activity has now moved much further south, below Boulogne, where more boats have just set off on their journey.

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