Eight more migrants have been brought ashore adding up to a total 46 people in three incidents this week.

This latest case yesterday, the third in three days, involved eight men.

At about 7am Border Force was alerted by HM Coastguard to a small boat crossing the Channel towards Britain.

A Border Force cutter and a coastal patrol vessel were sent out and intercepted the craft.

The men aboard were moved onto the cutter.

Their nationality is currently unconfirmed.

A Home Office spokesman said: "All the individuals were brought to Dover, where they were medically assessed and found to be well, before being transferred to immigration officials for interview."

There had been two other incidents this week, both on Wednesday and on either side of the Channel.

Firstly a total 27 migrants were found in one small boat heading for Britain.

Border Force picked them up and brought them to Dover for handover to immigration officials.

That same morning French authorities located a damaged boat with 11 people and brought them to border police at Dunkirk.

Kent Online has kept a count incidents since the present trend of migrants trying to reach Britain by small craft became clear.

Since November 8 we have counted net 97 cases involving 878 people, including yesterday's incident.

These are migrants who have landed on our shores by themselves or have been rescued and brought in by British authorities.

Incidents have happened at Dover, Kingsdown near Deal, Folkestone and Romney Marsh.

There is a gross figure since November 8 of 126 incidents involving 946 people.

This also includes cases of French authorities intercepting small craft and bringing the occupants back to France.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal

Read more: All the latest news from Dover

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone

Read more: All the latest news from Romney Marsh