Yet another group of migrants attempting to reach Kent has been intercepted by the authorities.

About eight people in a small dinghy were picked up by the French authorities in the early hours, the Home Office has confirmed.

They were suffering from hypothermia and were taken to Boulogne by 7am.

A statement from the French authorities says: "At about 3am we were alerted to a boat of eight migrants off Calais.

"Immediately, the Regional Operational Centre for Surveillance and Rescue (Cross), the coastal patrol officer and (an English) RNLI lifeboat (along with other services) were deployed.

"At about 5.20am, they recovered the eight migrants on board in a state of hypothermia.
"By about 7am, the migrants were taken into the care of emergency services at Boulogne."

It comes in a series of bids by such groups to enter the country via Dover and Folkestone, with the total number rising to more than 80 in the last two week.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "At around 3am this morning Border Force deployed a coastal patrol vessel in response to a distress call in the Channel.

"French Authorities also responded to the call and embarked eight Iranian individuals prior to the Border Force vessel arriving on the scene.

"The individuals were then taken back to France.’"

On Friday, eight people were found by patrols trying to get into the country,

And on Thursday (November 22), a further 14 migrants were found adrift off the Kent coast across two dinghys.

Coastal patrols are being stepped up as a result of the spike in migrant arrivals at Dover.

This method of arrival by the migrants moves away from the common form - hiding in the backs of lorries.

Migrant charity Samphire believes that this is because of much tighter security at borders.