Bordering on madness: Record 202 migrants make it across the Channel to Kent in a single day - as ministers call on Home Office to get a grip of border farce

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More than 200 illegal immigrants crossed the Channel to arrive on the British coast yesterday – a record for a single day.

The astonishing number brought renewed calls for ministers to get a grip on the Channel crossings crisis. The previous record for one day was 180, set on July 12.

In fact, yesterday’s figure of 202 could be even higher because the Border Force records only include intercepted boats and it was unclear last night if they account for at least two groups of migrants picked up by police inland.

It began at 3.26am when 48 arrived on three boats in Kent. A further 17 boats carrying 154 migrants then arrived, mostly over the course of 12 hours. One local resident said the boats were like a ‘flotilla’.

More than 200 illegal immigrants crossed the Channel to arrive on the British coast yesterday – a record for a single day

Among 202 migrants caught making the crossing were five children, who have been passed on to the proper authorities

French authorities intercepted around 20 migrants in a boat that was taking on water in the English Channel earlier today

One group of around 12 sprawled in a garden in the historic town of Walmer. One of them fell asleep against the garden fence. Others took off their shoes as they rested and cooled down.

A few of them sat texting – possibly telling other migrants they had made it – before being picked up by police. They are likely to be among those not included in the 202 figure.

Last night there were calls for Home Secretary Priti Patel to put more pressure on the French authorities to intercept and tow boatloads of illegal migrants back to their shores.

Retired driving instructor Bob Chesney, 71, who owns the £407,000 two-bedroom bungalow where the migrants rested on the grass, said they arrived at about 9.30am.

Last night there were calls for Home Secretary Priti Patel to put more pressure on the French authorities to intercept and tow boatloads of illegal migrants back to their shores 

The astonishing number brought renewed calls for ministers to get a grip on the Channel crossings crisis. The previous record for one day was 180, set on July 12

The married grandfather-of-five said: ‘I was a bit worried at first and I asked one of the officers if it was safe. I asked if they were illegal immigrants.

‘He said they were, but that I had nothing to worry about. He mentioned that several had run away.’

Mr Chesney said they were picked up by immigration enforcement vans at about 11am.

Carpenter Kelvin Thomas, 67, working next door, said: ‘I think they were pleased to get caught. There was no commotion – they were very subdued.’

At around 6am, another group of five wrecked their inflatable boat before swimming ashore at St Margaret’s at Cliffe, near Dover.

A few of them sat texting – possibly telling other migrants they had made it – before being picked up by police. They are likely to be among those not included in the 202 figure

They were seen lying in the sun, taking selfies and using the seafront railings as a clothes rail to dry their clothing.

They were then picked up by immigration officials who gave them face masks.

One boat which arrived after being picked up by Border Force guards appeared to have a young girl of no more than six or seven-years-old on board. She was carried into the processing centre by an official at Dover port.

MP for Dover Natalie Elphicke told the Mail: ‘The brazen behaviour of these latest arrivals highlights how illegal entrants are mocking our border security.

‘This is simply not good enough. There needs to be firmer action taken by the Home Office to bring an end to these dangerous small boat crossings.’

One group of around 12 sprawled in a garden in the historic town of Walmer. One of them fell asleep against the garden fence. Others took off their shoes as they rested and cooled down

Home Office minister Chris Philp said: ‘The number of illegal small boat crossings we are seeing from France is unacceptably high.

‘France have stopped thousands of migrants this year and they stopped more today, but more needs to be done.

‘We need stronger enforcement measures, including interceptions at sea and direct return of boats and the French have heard that directly from the Home Secretary.’ 

Hundreds of migrants have been arriving in the UK in small boats every month, even with Britain being under coronavirus lockdown.

One of the migrant group's raft is left on the shoreline as Border Force officers attempt to detain those arriving

Pictures from earlier in July show boats in a secure compound in Dover which have been seized after being intercepted in the Channel while carrying migrants from the French coast

Home Secretary Priti Patel was in Calais on the same day 200 migrants tried to travel into Britain, to discuss a clampdown on illegal crossings with her French counterpart.

She said: 'Despite all of the action taken by law enforcement to date - intercepting the boats, making arrests, returning people to France and putting the criminals responsible behind bars - the numbers continue to increase.

'This simply cannot be allowed to go on.'

In May, the Mail revealed how French navy vessels are escorting some migrant-filled boats to British waters before handing them over to UK Border Force vessels without even intercepting them.

Some migrants are believed to threaten to throw themselves into the water, causing the French boats to stand off.

Last week saw the 3,000th migrant arrive by illegal boat since the start of the year. The figure for the whole of 2019 was 1,890. In 2018 it was just 297.               

More than 1,000 migrants have successfully made the crossing in July alone, as warm weather has opened a window of opportunity for people smugglers to organise perilous voyages 

At least 202 migrants were caught crossing into Britain today, just weeks after 200 others tried to make the same voyage

The first migrants were seen arriving at St Margaret's in Cliffe, Dover early on Thursday morning