More than 24,000 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year

More than 24,000 migrants have now crossed the English Channel in dinghies this year after 212 asylum seekers were recorded making the perilous journey on Tuesday - including a number of small children.

Official Home Office data shows that with Tussday's arrivals, 24,208 migrants have been recorded crossing the strait to date in 2023. In September alone 4,107 migrants have been picked up in the Channel in 74 boats.

The arrivals were the first in nine days after the last tranche of 56 migrants packed into one dinghy was detected on September 17.

Dover's arrivals come as the first named storm of the season, Storm Agnes, battered Britain with 80mph winds and heavy rains - making crossing the English Channel in small boats extremely hazardous.

Stopping the boats crossing the Channel was one of five pledges made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the start of this year!