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Daily Record
Daily Record
World
Michael Drummond & Jon Hebditch

Migrant in wheelchair makes it across English Channel as hundreds take on perilous journey

The Home Office has revealed 146 migrants arrived in Britain yesterday aboard 17 boats as pictures showed a person in a wheelchair had made the perilous journey on Saturday.

Figures for how many migrants reached the UK today have not yet been made available.

Those arriving on Saturday were clad in blankets and lifejackets as a Border Force boat dropped people off in Dover this afternoon.

Out in the narrow English Channel multiple Border Force vessels have been roaming the sea alongside Coastguard, RNLI and French forces since early this morning.

There are also reports that migrants have landed on beaches in Kent, something local MP Natalie Elphicke has called an "unacceptable situation".

Border Force cutter Seeker in the harbour at port of Dover as more migrants are brought ashore on Saturday (PA)

Border Force customs cutter Seeker has been active in the Channel, joined by HMC Protector and patrol boat Hunter.

Officers were seen making multiple trips into the harbour in a fast rib-type boat carrying migrants, while officials waited up above.

The RNLI lifeboat was also seen leaving the port and heading out into the Dover strait.

Just a few hundred metres across the marina, dozens of beachgoers basked in the roasting 33C heat on another hot day in the South East of England.

Meanwhile, video on social media appeared to show more migrants landing on a beach further along the Kent coast.

Over in French waters, authorities have rescued at least 33 migrants and brought them back to Calais.

Patrol boats sailing under the Tricolour remain active in the Channel this afternoon.

At least 235 migrants made the dangerous journey across the Channel to the UK on Thursday - a new single-day record.

On Friday 146 migrants reached the UK, the Home Office confirmed on Saturday evening.

The Home Office has yet to provide a complete breakdown of Friday's crossings by nationality, age, and gender - or any details of Saturday's crossings.

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