Migrants clash with French police as hundreds cross Channel for second consecutive weekend

The People's Channel can also reveal that at least 500 migrants launched from French beaches on Saturday morning.

It is another milestone for the UK Government, as the number of migrants who have made the illegal crossing so far this year has now passed 41,000.

In the early hours today, a group of around 30 migrants pushed a dinghy down into the river in the town of Grand-Fort-Philippe.

As the group attempted to board the boat, police arrived on scene and immediately began confronting them.

Several volleys of tear gas were fired at the migrants, who could be heard screaming at the officers.

Despite the efforts of the gendarmerie, the group were still able to launch their boat down the river and out into the English Channel.

So far this morning, several small boats have already crossed into UK waters.

Just after 7am, the RNLI lifeboat from Ramsgate reached Dover harbour with the first group of illegal arrivals.

GB News counted 47 people as they were taken off the lifeboat and sent to the Border Force migrant processing facility in the harbour.

Just over half an hour later, the Border Force vessel Defender docked at Dover.

Hundreds more are reported to be nearing UK waters.

The latest arrivals follow 28 days of no small boat activity because of poor weather conditions.

The winds died down last Saturday, allowing people smugglers push more than 700 migrants out into small boats.

On Wednesday, a further 500 made the voyage from France.

This morning's clashes between police and migrants show that French authorities are attempting some interventions, but the vast majority of small boat launches are still going largely unchallenged.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The number of small boat crossings are shameful and the British people deserve better.

“This Government is taking action. We have removed almost 50,000 people who were here illegally, and our historic deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back.

“The Home Secretary has announced the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in decades, removing the incentives that bring illegal migrants to the UK and scaling up the return of those with no right to be here.”