More than 50 migrants are thought to have been picked up while attempting to reach the shore in Kent this morning.

KentOnline understands the huge number of people were found in and around the Dover area.

Several were seen landing in St Margaret's Bay, before allegedly abandoning their boat and walking towards Kingsdown.

They were later picked up by police.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "At around 8.15am Kent Police was called to Oldstairs Road, Kingsdown, following reports of people getting out of a dinghy.

"Patrols attended and eight people were located on the beach.

"They are being passed to Home Office immigration officers."

A helicopter is also up monitoring the situation on the Romney Marsh.

It is also understood a further 14 suspected migrants were brought to shore by Border Force, while another 34 - including five children - were picked up from two dinghies.

Another dinghy was also apparently intercepted, but the number of people it carried is unknown.

Two of the suspected migrants are said to have been taken to hospital for treatment.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Border Force is currently dealing with a number of ongoing small boat incidents.

"Further details will be provided when the operational response has concluded and the situations have been resolved."

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