Patriots patrolling the coast in search of migrants are “dangerously close to vigilantism,” a campaign group has said.

Romney Marsh-based South East Coastal Defence (SECD), a group of volunteers who claims to monitor the waters between Dungeness and Deal, brushed off the criticism.

The activists hope to be stationed in each south Kent town and village, according to founder Elaine Renton.

One group member Glen Saffer claims to have cut ties with far-right Islamaphobic organisation English Defence League (EDL), because “it became infiltrated by extremists".

Bridget Chapman, from Kent Anti Racism Network (KARN), said: “You can’t have people just setting themselves up as security – it looks like people trying to take the law into their own hands.

“I feel like this is dangerously close to vigilantism.

“I don’t see any point in them doing this anyway, migrants who come to the UK want to be found by the authorities, so they can seek asylum.

“We have been leafleting in Folkestone town centre to combat what we believe is misleading information circulated by this group.”

KARN member Susanna Pavelkova from Folkestone, added: "I think it's really important that people understand the facts.

"I was a child refugee myself and I know that no one leaves their home unless the situation is desperate.

"The reception we have had today has been really positive and it makes me want to do even more."

Headed up by Elaine Renton from Romney Marsh, SECD hopes to boost members by leafleting in south East Kent towns.

The literature claims all those attempting to reach Britain are economic migrants.

Titled ‘Did You Know’, the document says: “Britain needs controlled immigration. The people of Kent need controlled immigration.

Working in pairs, the activists will be stationed in each south Kent town and village according to Ms Renton.

She claims to have recruited one member during two weeks of campaigning, with literature handed out in Folkestone and Dymchurch, boosting numbers to 41.

“This is not vigilantism at all, that’s a load of nonsense.

“We are just patriotic about our country,” she said.

Glen Saffer, who travels 170 miles from Norwich to the Folkestone and Hythe district, claims he disbanded the EDL in 2014 due to extremism within the group.

Youtube footage shows the former boxing instructor speaking at a Peterborough rally the same year.

“I’m a patriot, a patriot for the country, I want the best for this country.

“I have no problem with immigrants - it’s illegal immigrants I have a problem with.

“Yes I was in the EDL but I quit in 2014, I’m not far right, I am with Tommy Robinson.

“I might come back to Folkestone," he told the Express.

It comes after a leaked video sent to friends by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, shows him using racist slurs and bragging about procuring drugs wherever he goes.

Meanwhile a family-of-seven migrants were found near the coast on Sunday morning.

A mother, father and their five children were found in Kingsdown after their RHIB was spotted off the coast.

A total of 379 migrants are believed to have arrived in Kent after making the dangerous crossing from France to date, a situation which the Home Secretary Sajid Javid declared a "major incident" at Christmas.