Fishermen say they are now being targeted by ruthless people smugglers asking to use their boats to ship migrants into the UK via Kent.

It comes as reports suggest Royal Navy warships will be brought in to patrol the English Channel.

Martin Jackson, who was a commercial fisherman for more than four decades, wrote to the Home Office last summer to express his concerns.

He said: “I'm not sure the powers that be are putting the money into it for one thing, but they don't seem very willing to come and discuss it with the very people who could be extremely helpful to them.”

A report in The Sunday Times suggests the Royal Navy and Royal Marines have been called in to step up patrols in the Dover Strait.

The report states the UK Border Agency has appealed to their military colleagues to stop people smuggling, and also reveals the agency has just three boats to patrol the Channel.

Assistance could see Royal Marines manning raiding boats capable of speeds of up to 45mph to deter yachts, fishing boats and speedboats from setting off from northern France, Belgium and Holland laden with would-be migrants.

It follows news last week that a group of Albanians had to be rescued by RNLI Lifeboat crews off the coast of Dungeness when their boat started to sink.

Two Brits from Farningham and Dartford were charged with immigration offences and are due to appear in court tomorrow.