Disaster was averted after an asylum seekers' flimsy dinghy drifted towards a ferry port and had to be rescued by Border Force.

At least one group of asylum seekers was escorted through the Port of Dover.

At least two children were seen among the group with one photographed being guided to safety along a gangway by an official.

The port authority, Home Office, coastguards and ferry companies were contacted by KentOnline to get full details of exactly what happened today (Tuesday).

A P&O Ferries spokesman said: "No P&O vessel has been delayed or obstructed by migrant boats."

A spokesman for the Port of Dover said: "There was no diversion or delay of vessels from this situation. "

Meanwhile the coastguard said there were no records of alerts.

This was the latest incident in continued asylum seeker arrivals to the UK across the Channel in small boats.

It is now known that 25 people, including two toddlers, arrived in the early hours of January 12 and more came that evening.

On January 4, a total of 66 people, including a baby girl, were brought to Dover in two incidents.

On January 10, 96 people were brought to Dover on board vessels of the Border Force and the RNLI in the early hours in freezing temperatures.

More than 28,300 people crossed the Dover Strait aboard small boats in 2021, triple 2020's figure.

On November 24, 27 people drowned off Calais when their dinghy capsized.

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