Immigration officers have launched an investigation after nine suspected migrants landed in Folkestone yesterday, as coastal patrols along the Kent coast are being 'stepped up'.

It is believed the group called police to say they were in trouble at 7.30am yesterday morning and had been spotted by a member of the public.

The group were found clambering up rocks after landing in a small boat.

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The latest incident brings the total number of suspected migrants found off the Kent coast in the last 11 days to 66.

A spokeswoman for the Home Office confirmed that Border Force were called to attend a small vessel that made land close to Folkestone Harbour.

The Home Office has since confirmed that the nine people found on board presented themselves as Iranian nationals.

Officers were supported by HM Coastguard. The individuals were taken to Dover and will be processed in line with immigration rules.

The spokeswoman added: "Immigration Enforcement are now conducting a criminal investigation and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further."

The probe comes after the Home Office confirmed more coastal patrol vessels would be deployed in Kent. The spokeswoman added: "We are alert to the risk posed by people attempting to reach the UK illegally via small boats.

"This year we have increased the number of coastal patrol vessel and, in light of recent events, have stepped up deployments along the south east coast.

"We continue to work closely with law enforcement partners in the UK and overseas to tackle people smuggling at source.

"Nobody should put their life at risk attempting to smuggle themselves into the UK across the Channel.

"Thankfully, this route to the UK remains relatively rare."

It's believed the group were spotted initially in Dover, but eventually landed in Folkestone.

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police were called at 6.54am on Sunday, November 18, to reports of concerns around a number of people in an inflatable boat off the coast of Dover.

"The incident is being dealt with by the Border Force, assisted by HM Coastguard."

It is the seventh known incident of its kind in less than two weeks off the shores of east Kent, with all the others being in Dover.

Overnight on Thursday, November 8 and Friday 9, seven migrants were found in a small dinghy near Dover.

They said they were Iranian.

HM Coastguard and the RNLI intercepted the boat, a Border Force vessels arrived and the group were taken for interview by immigration officials.

On Tuesday morning last week, 14 men with three children tried to land a fishing boat at Dover Harbour before being stopped.

Border Force officials, helped by the port authority and coastguards, boarded the vessel.

They said they were all Iranian.

The adults were dealt with by the Home Office and the children were referred to social services.

That same day, at about 2.50pm, seven men were found hiding in a lorry that arrived in Dover from Calais. They were found by Port of Dover Police after a search of the vehicle.

Three said they were Iranian, four said they were Iraqi.

One Iranian was taken to hospital and the other six men were referred to immigration officials for interview.

On Wednesday, just before 5am, nine people were found in a dinghy near Dover.

A Border Force vessel, with the RNLI and HM Coastguard, intercepted it and escorted it to Dover Western Docks.

Later that morning, at about 9.15am, 10 men saying they were Iranian were escorted into Dover on their fishing boat.

The vessel was guided in by an RNLI vessel and met by Border Force officers.

Seven more people were then found on Samphire Hoe beach near Dover on Friday.

They were transferred to immigration officials for interview.