UK authorities call off search for person seen clinging to the Colbert Light Buoy in the Channel

The search for the person seen clinging to the Colbert Light Buoy in the Channel has now been called off.

Searchers found some personal belongings on the buoy, leading to fears the person may have been swept into the water, but searches failed to find any trace of a person and maritime authorities have now been stood down.

At least seven small boats were intercepted and mire than 250 people have been taken back to Dover harbour for processing.

Sources have told GB News that one of the boats was intercepted in the southern North Sea, indicating it may have set off from a beach in Belgium.

The Ramsgate and Dungeness lifeboats, as well several Border Force vessels have also responded to other incidents.

After several days of bad weather in the Channel, conditions have improved slightly, but winds are still blowing at more than 30mph and wave heights are extremely treacherous for the flimsy inflatables the criminal gangs use.

It is understood that at least 250 people have so far been transferred onto lifeboats and Border Force vessels.

Today’s incidents come after the Government confirmed more than 38,000 people had crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year.

That number is around 10,000 more than those who crossed in the whole of last year.

12,000 of those arriving are from Albania.