More than FIFTY migrants crammed into each boat crossing the Channel in July

The average number of migrants crossing the Channel per boat last month was the highest on record, figures show.

This is the highest average since records began in 2018, according to PA analysis of Government data.

The third highest average, 47, was reached in October last year when 147 boats carried 6,900 people in a month.

Provisional Home Office figures show 14,732 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year.

To Monday, no arrivals have been recorded in nearly a week amid poor weather conditions at sea.

This followed a large wave of migrants the previous week when over 1,100 people made the trip in the space of just three days between July 18 and 20.

The 2023 total to date is 10% lower than the 16,434 recorded from January to July last year.