Hundreds of migrants are currently attempting to cross the English Channel by small boat this Christmas Day morning.
More than a hundred have already arrived in Dover harbour in the early hours today.
At least four more migrant boats are currently attempting to cross, with others expected over the coming hours.
On Tuesday, GB News exclusively revealed that thousands of migrants were massing along the northern coast of France, preparing to cross to the UK over the Christmas period.
GB News filmed images of many hundreds of migrants around one makeshift camp near Dunkirk.
Hundreds more were seen along the main roads around Dunkirk.
Migrants arriving in the early hours of Christmas morning aboard Border Force vessel Volunteer
GB News
Dover harbour was covered in a thick fog this morning
GB News
GB News Kent producer is reporting a very dangerous situation in the Channel at present, as another four small boats are attempting to cross in very foggy conditions.
The crossings in fog are particularly dangerous, as the large container ships and other vessels in one of the World’s busiest shipping lanes cannot see the small migrant boats.
More than 35,000 migrants have made the illegal journey from France so far this year, 20 per cent higher than last year.
In October, the numbers crossing passed the 29,437 who made the journey during the whole of last year.
Migrants gather and prepare to cross the channel on Christmas day
GB News
Yesterday, GB News travelled to the makeshift migrant camp at Grand Synth near Dunkirk.
More than 500 migrants were in that one camp alone.
Many were being fed by local activist groups and charities.
The numbers in and around the coastal camps fluctuate, depending on weather conditions and the schedule for launches prepared by the people smugglers.
Many migrants are camped further inland, but travel to the coast in the hours and days ahead of their planned sailing day.
One small boat smuggler has offered migrants a “Christmas special” deal to illegally cross the Channel.
The smuggler, who uses the name ‘Salar’ on the Telegram messaging site.
He wrote that he had 15 places available on one small boat.
He said: “From the 25th until the 29th, there will be special offers as the weather is also good – God willing, you will be in England before the new year.”
The UK Prime Minister has vowed to “smash the gangs” and end the small boats crisis.
The Labour Government has signed a number of agreements with other countries to improve law enforcement cooperation in the fight against the smugglers.
But so far, there has been no slowdown in the numbers crossing from France.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.
“The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay.
“We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.”
