Decathlon shops in northern France have stopped selling CANOES

Sports equipment retailer Decathlon said it would no longer sell canoes in the north of France after migrants started using them to make the crossing to England.

'The purchase of canoes will no longer be possible' in Decathlon stores in Calais and Grande-Synthe, near Dunkirk, 'given the current context,' the retailer said.

The items were not being used for their original sporting purpose, but 'could be used to cross the Channel,' it said.

The stores themselves had decided to stop selling the canoes and management had approved the decision, Decathlon said.

The canoes will continue to be available for online purchase and in other stores. Other safety equipment, such as life-jackets and thermal protection will also still be sold in the Calais and Grande-Synthe stores.