More than 1,000 migrants tried to cross the Channel in four DAYS

More than 1,000 people have been intercepted trying to cross the Channel in the past four days - and more arrived in Britain on Sunday alone than did in the whole of December last year.

The latest crossings mean that since the start of the year, more than 27,000 people have reached the UK after navigating busy shipping lanes from France in small boats - compared to 8,400 in 2020.

Despite thick fog hampering visibility in the 21-mile Dover Strait, UK authorities intercepted 274 people from 11 boats on Sunday - a higher figure than the 211 people accounting for the entirety of December last year.

French authorities intercepted at least 178 people from five boats yesterday and one on Saturday.  

On Friday British authorities rescued or intercepted 358 people from 10 boats, and French authorities prevented at least 317 people in 11 boats from reaching the UK on Thursday and Friday.

No successful crossings were made on Monday, the Home Office confirmed.