FRENCH immigration officers are working at the Port of Dover for the first time this week.

In a deal between the UK and French governments, French officials are now working in Dover and British officials are working in Calais and Dunkirk, checking cross-Channel passengers before they board the ferries.

Those without the correct documents will not be allowed to travel. The new arrangements began on Sunday.

A similar scheme is already in operation at each end of the Channel Tunnel, and at Paris, Lille, Brussells, Ashford and Waterloo for the Eurostar services.

Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes said the number of asylum claims has been halved since border controls were tightened.