Nearly 700 asylum seekers were rescued or intercepted by UK authorities yesterday .

The Home Office confirmed that the figures added up to 695 people in 22 incidents.

It said that yesterday French authorities intercepted or rescued another 255 people in seven more incidents.

Dan O’Mahoney, British Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, said: “Migrants making these dangerous crossings are putting their lives at risk and it is vital we do everything we can to prevent them and break the business model of the criminal gangs exploiting people.

“As part of our response it is important we have a maritime deterrent in the channel and Border Force officers are authorised to use safe and legal options for stopping small boats.”

Beach landings over the years have taken place in areas such as Dungeness.

Those rescued at sea by Britain's Border Force are initially taken to the Tug Haven area of Dover Western Docks and from then interviewed and processed.

Bridget Chapman from the Kent Refugee Action Network: "The best way to stop people risking their lives in the Channel is by giving them better options than crossing in a small boat.

"One way of doing that would be to issue humanitarian visas in France so that people can make this crossing safely and in a regularised fashion. Despite some hysterical reporting of this issue, the number arriving are not out of the ordinary, it's just that the method of travel has changed.

"France already takes three times as many asylum applications as the UK while Germany takes ten times as many. We have a duty to accept our share of asylum applications, and we need to act quickly to stop the chaos in the Channel and ensure there are no further tragedies."

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