More than 7,000 asylum seekers have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel this year so far.

The figure is three time the number who arrived in the same period last year and seven times the figure for the first four months of 2020.

Since the start of 2022, 7,240 people have reached the UK after navigating the world's busiest shipping lane from France in small boats, according to analysis of government data by the PA news agency.

Crossings resumed this weekend, with more than 500 people arriving in Kent over two days, after an 11-day stretch without any taking place amid bad weather conditions.

That followed the government's controversial announcement that some new arrivals would be sent to Rwanda. It also handed control of Channel security to the Royal Navy.

Some 293 people made the crossing to the UK in nine boats on Bank Holiday Monday after 254 in seven boats arrived on Sunday.

In April, there were nine days of crossings and 2,143 people arrived in the UK as a result.

The highest daily total for 2022 was recorded on April 13 when 651 people made the crossing in 18 boats.

A record 1,185 people made the crossing to the UK on November 11, 2021 – the highest recorded so far since the start of 2020.