Almost 1,500 migrants have arrived in the county on small boats over the past week – including more than 600 yesterday.

Latest government figures have revealed the busy week coastguards have been facing as many attempt to enter the UK via Dover.

It includes 647 entering the UK illegally yesterday in 10 boats, while as many as 25 dinghies have been brought in across the past week carrying 1,450 migrants.

However, it comes nowhere near the highest figures which saw almost 1,000 arrive on one day earlier this month.

It comes just a day after a baby died when a boat carrying migrants across the Channel ran into difficulties, and highlights the increasing desperation of those crossing.

At least 52 people have died so far this year attempting to cross the Channel in dangerously overloaded boats.

More than 28,500 people have made the crossing this year, which is higher than the same period in 2023.

The sustained pressure comes as the Labour government continues to emphasise the matter cannot be changed overnight.

In July, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged the situation may get worse before it gets better, as he attended the Nato summit in Washington.

A small boat is one of a number of vessels used by individuals to get across the English Channel, with the aim of gaining entry to the UK without a visa or permission to enter – either directly by landing in the UK or having been intercepted at sea by the authorities and brought ashore.

The most common small vessels detected making these types of crossings are rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs), dinghies and kayaks.