Dozens of migrants have been found off the Kent coast trying to cross the Channel.

Border Force officials were called to assist a vessel entering UK waters near Dover at 5.30am yesterday.

There, they discovered the small boat was carrying 26 men and two women who said they were from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Syria.

They were taken to Dover, where they were medically assessed and transferred to immigration officials for interviews.

Three of them claim to be minors and, subject to age assessment, will be transferred into the care of social services.

Home Office director for crime and enforcement Tony Eastaugh said: “We are tackling illegal migrant crossings on all fronts with every agency working in tandem with the French and Belgian authorities.

“We have extra patrols on French beaches, drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment which has been deployed to stop small boats leaving European shores.

"And it’s working. Last year, 100 people smugglers were convicted for a total of 320 years.”

Over the past 12 months, more than 125 migrants have been returned to Europe after entering UK illegally on small boats.

Following a meeting of British, French and Belgian officials last week, it was confirmed that a Border Force officer will be stationed in Zeebrugge.

Yesterday'scase brings a tally of 12 migrant incidents at sea in five days, involving a total 142 people.

Five cases were on the British side and in all but one, migrants were found out at sea and brought ashore by the authorities.

They are usually medically checked and interviewed by immigration officers.

In the seven cases on the French side migrants were at sea, usually near Calais, and brought ashore to France to be dealt with by border police.

Those found were men, women and children who said they were from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Syria.

Tuesday, January 21.

Eleven migrants found at Dover Eastern Docks, 10 found at a boat near Dover. and six off Cap Blanc-Nez.

Wednesday, January 22.

Thirteen off Oye-Plage near Dunkirk, 11 off Cap Griz-Nez, near Boulogne, 13 in a boat on the English Channel near Dover. and 13 on the British side of the Channel.

Thursday, January 23.

Eleven off Calais, and seven on British side of the Channel.

Friday, January 24.

Eleven off Calais.

Saturday, January 25. Eight off Stella-Plage near Le Touquet and 28 in one small boat off Dover.

Read more: All the latest news from Dover