Refugees in ‘beat Brexit stampede’

string of refugees arriving in dinghies – said: “There’s definitely been an influx due to a fear of the borders shutting ‘properly’ after a Brexit deal. There’s very much a mentality of ‘if you don’t go now you will miss your spot’.

“Smugglers are using Brexit as a way to get migrants to come over – and in turn cashing in. We’ve had perfect weather over

Christmas which has undoubtedly played a big part. They are desperate to come over. It’s been an invasion.”

Dover MP Charlie

Elphicke has called for more patrol boats in the Channel. The Tory said the Home Office “has not been taking this seriously enough and the crisis has continued to escalate”.

Judy Judd, 58, who was in Dover with her friend Mike Smith, 61, said: “The area is saturated. Security isn’t what it should be.”

And Lily de Pol, 64, said of the influx: “It can’t just be the weather. We had a very calm summer and it was not on this scale.

“Something must have triggered this recently making them scared.”

But some locals said Britain needs more compassion. Social worker Joy Stephens, 67, said: “Theresa May talks of ‘British values’ but what are these if we don’t have humanity and empathy? Closing borders is a stop-gap solution. We need to open our hearts to these people.”