Full details have emerged about two small craft containing migrants brought ashore yesterday.

The Home Office has now explained that at 8.30am Border Force was alerted to a small boat crossing the Channel heading for the UK.

A Border Force coastal patrol vessel intercepted the craft, which had 11 men.

They presented themselves as Iranian nationals.

They presented themselves as Iranian nationals.

In the second case yesterday a RHIB (rigid-hulled inflatable boat) was spotted at about 11am yesterday in the Channel and again stopped by a Border Force CPV.

The nine men and one child on board said they were Iranian, Afghan and Nigerian.

Both groups were taken to Dover for medical assessment and interview by immigration officials.

These cases are the latest in a trend over the last year of migrants trying to reach the UK by crossing the Channel in small vessels.

Kent Online's count of cases adds up to a net of 40 since last November 8 involving 343 people with these latest incidents.

This is for migrants who have landed onshore in Kent or been rescued and brought in by British authorities.

Incidents have happened in the areas of Dover, Deal, Folkestone and Romney Marsh.

There is a gross figure of 49 incidents over this time involving a total 422 people.

This figure also includes migrants stopped by French authorities and returned to France.

A Home Office spokesman said; "Crossing the Channel in a small boat is a huge risk. The criminal gangs who perpetuate this are ruthless and do not care about loss of life.

“Since December, two cutters have returned to UK waters from overseas operations, we have agreed a joint action plan with France and increased activity out of the Joint Coordination and Information Centre in Calais.

“It is an established principle that those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach and since January more than 65 people who arrived illegally in the UK in small boats have been returned to Europe."

Read more: All the latest news from Deal

Read more: All the latest news from Dover

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone

Read more: All the latest news from Romney Marsh