SKIPPER BEACHES YACHT IN EAST SUSSEX BEFORE 20 FLEE

ABOUT 20 suspected migrants came ashore at Rye in East Sussex yesterday – 30 miles west of Dover.

Video footage, left, filmed by onlookers showed the skipper of the ten-metre yacht deliberately running aground at the town’s harbour just after midday.

Witnesses said those on board leapt off the vessel and swam to the shore before running away.

Border Force officers appeared around two hours later to begin looking for the migrants, claimed sources in the town, which dates back to medieval times.

One said: ‘It was very strange. We thought it was just a yacht coming in as normal and then it twice rammed into the shore to run aground.

‘The captain jumped out and rowed ashore. He looked like he knew what he was doing as he just ran away and left the others, who had to swim.’