85 migrants bound for UK are rescued

MORE than 80 migrants have been brought ashore in the UK as the wave of small boats crossing the English Channel continues.

Border Force dealt with six boats in the early hours of yesterday morning, the Home Office said.

Of the 85 people rescued, eight were female, a spokesperson said.

Officials said the migrants were from Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Egypt, Iran, Kuwait, Palestine, Iraq, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Vietnam and Turkey.

All the migrants were handed over to immigration officials and given a medical check before being interviewed.

In addition, the French coastguard said there were several other reports of migrant boats overnight on Tuesday.

In the early hours of yesterday morning, three boats were found in French waters containing 36 migrants who were taken back to France, authorities on the Continent said.

On Tuesday, 11 migrants were intercepted and returned to France as they attempted the crossing.

The 11 men – whose boat was reported to be in difficulty

– were rescued after a passenger ferry alerted French authorities.