More than 500 migrants cross Channel in one day

A total of 19,820 migrants have now crossed the channel so far in 2024

More than 500 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats on Tuesday, latest figures show.

A total of 19,820 migrants have made the crossing so far in 2024, with 526 crossing on eight boats on Tuesday.

It marks the first arrivals since 19 August, after a period of windy weather.

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 number of people who have crossed the channel on small boats was 0.1% higher than at the same point in 2023 (19,801) and 21% lower than 2022 (25,065).

Among the people in the eight boats that crossed were men, women and children wearing life jackets and blankets.

The English Channel is one of the most dangerous and busiest shipping lanes in the world.

Many migrants come from some of the poorest and most chaotic parts of the world, and many ask to claim asylum once they are picked up by the UK authorities.