The Home Secretary is considering bringing back one of Border Force's cutters posted in the Mediterranean to deal with the growing migrant crisis affecting Kent's shores.

Sajid Javid is considering the measure after around 100 mainly Iranian migrants have been rescued from small boats trying to cross the English Channel over the last month.

Yet he warned he has reservations about the move as it could encourage more asylum seekers to risk making the dangerous journey.

Mr Javid said organised crime gangs are behind the surge in mainly Iranian migrants who have arrived in the county.

He was being quizzed on the home affairs select committee by Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti.

Mr Javid said: "I have thought about: do we bring back one of the cutters we have in the Mediterreanean and put it to work in the Channel?

"That becomes a humanitarian and rescue mission and we have seen the risk in other countries that that can encourage more people to try and cross the Channel.

"At the heart of this, is going to be the co-operation between France and the UK."

Asked by Mr Chisti what is being done to stop migrants coming to Kent, Mr Javid said this is a "very important issue" with border security one of his departments "top priorities".

"I think we can absolutely improve the situation but until I understand more about what's causing it I'm reluctant to say it can absolutely be done..." - Sajid Javid

"This is a significant increase to what we've seen in the past and most of the individuals that have been on those boats claim they are Iranian," he said.

"I am very concerned about what's happened there. "These boats must be coming from France. It's fairly obvious but I don't think the French always accept that.

"I think it's reasonable that they always ask for whatever proof that can be provided."

Earlier this year, Britain and France agreed the Sandhurst Treaty to improve border security cooperation between the two countries.

An round-the-clock Anglo-French information centre to co-ordinate the response opened last Friday, which Mr Javid said would help the migrant situation.

However, he would not commit to saying the situation would have improved in six months time.

Mr Javid said: "On this particular issue, there's particular concern about why are we seeing this number of Iranians on those boats.

"Our evidence from the National Crime Agency is that there's an organised criminal gang activity.

"The NCA is working closely with its counterparts. I've asked the immigration minister to speak to her oppositve number in France to see if there is anything more we can jointly do.

"I have asked for a meeting across government that I will be chairing with other departments to see if there is more we can do with regards particularly to this increase in the number boats we have seen this month, which I don't want to see continue into December or beyond."

He added: "I wish I could say that with absolute confidence but I think until we know more about the organised criminal involvement in this, where that's coming from and the resources they have, and until we've heard more from this co-ordination and information centre, I would hestitate to say that.

"I don't want to go out on a limb and say we could absolutely guarantee that whatever happens these boats will be much less.

"I think we can absolutely improve the situation but until I understand more about what's causing it I'm reluctant to say it can absolutely be done."