More than 200 people attended a vigil on a Kent beach following the deaths of six asylum seekers in the English Channel.

The group gathered in Folkestone last night demanding the government provide “safe routes” for asylum seekers after a stricken vessel sank off the French coat early on Saturday.

Campaigners called the deaths an “appalling and preventable tragedy”, while the Home Secretary dubbed the incident a “tragic loss of life”

Some 59 people were rescued by British and French coastguards on Saturday after an overloaded vessel carrying migrants got into difficulty near Sangatte.

According to the accounts of survivors, in is understood about 65 or 66 had originally boarded the boat.

Those rescued were mostly Afghans and some were Sudanese, official reports say.

A statement from the French authorities suggested it had been one of a number of migrant vessels which set off in hopes of reaching the UK coast.

Campaigners gathered on Folkestone beach last night to call for action to be taken.

Bridget Chapman, who attended the vigil, said: “More than 200 people turned out at short notice in Folkestone to demand that the government provide safe routes for refugees. “People here do not want to see any more deaths. Enough is enough.”

Home Secretary Suella Braverman described the incident as a “tragic loss of life” and said she had chaired a meeting with Border Force officials later on Saturday.

It comes after the government was accused of allowing its “small boats week” of linked announcements on immigration to descend into farce following the removal of dozens of asylum seekers from the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Senior Conservative backbencher David Davis said the “startling incompetence” of the Home Office had been laid bare after all 39 people on board the 500-capacity vessel were disembarked due to the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the water supply.

However, ministers intend to push on with plans to hire more barges to house asylum seekers, as well as student halls and former office blocks, The Telegraph reported.

The people who had been on the Bibby Stockholm, which had been billed as a cheaper alternative to expensive hotels for those awaiting the outcome of their claims, are now back being housed in alternative accommodation.

The Home Office says the health and welfare of asylum seekers “remains of the utmost priority” and that the evacuation took place as a precautionary measure, with all protocol and advice followed.