More than 14,000 migrants have arrived in the UK so far this year after crossing the Channel.
Figures from the UK Home Office show 419 people made the journey in six boats on Tuesday, suggesting an average of around 70 people per boat and taking the provisional total for 2024 to date to 14,058.
This is 10 per cent higher than the number recorded this time last year (12,772) and up 6% on the same period in 2022 (13,318), according to analysis of the data.
Several children were among those pictured being brought ashore in Dover, Kent, amid calm weather conditions at sea on an overcast and rainy day.
Groups of people were seen being escorted from Border Force boats and lifeboats wearing life jackets, with some wrapped in blankets.
The latest crossings mean 484 migrants arrivals have been recorded over two days of activity in the Channel since Sir Keir Starmer became UK prime minister following Labour’s general election victory last week.
But windy conditions in the Channel on Wednesday may prevent crossings being attempted for a third day in a row.
Last year, 29,437 migrants arrived in the UK after making the journey, down 36 per cent on a record 45,774 in 2022.
