An investigation has been launched after a teenage girl - believed to be Ethiopian - is reported to have died trying to get to Dover.

French police have confirmed that the teen died after being hit by a car in the early hours of yesterday morning.

MEP Janice Atkinson has vowed to contact the French mayor's office amid reports of the 16-year-old's death in Calais.

Ms Atkinson, tweeted: "Very sad that 16-year-old girl has been killed trying to board lorry at Calais. I will contact Mayor's office."

Tensions at the French port have mounted over recent weeks as issues with immigration reached crisis point.

The most recent outburst came from the mayor, Natacha Bouchart, who said she would shut the port if Britain didn't do more.

Since then UK Home Secretary Theresa May reached a deal with her French counterpart to deliver £12million to bolster security at the port over the next three years.

Speaking after the death, South East MEP Ms Atkinson said: "It's just absolutely tragic. It was just waiting to happen.

"My heart goes out to the 16-year-old's family. This is a tragic situation that was always going to happen and it happened today.

"I want a commitment from the French to re-patriate illegal immigrants and also to guarantee their safety in doing so.

"It's just absolutely tragic. It was just waiting to happen" - MEP Janice Atkinson

"We've also got to get a concerted effort of cross-country action to arrest and prosecute human traffickers."

She also called on Prime Minister David Cameron to hold urgent talks with the British government and directly with Calais.

She added: "Cameron has to go there himself and sort out the difficulties we have.

"It's got to be tackled at Calais and it's got to be tackled now."

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