Suspected illegal immigrants rescued from inflatable boat in English Channel

Seven suspected illegal immigrants are being questioned tonight, after a major rescue operation was launched in the English Channel involving three lifeboats from Kent and Sussex and a coastguard rescue helicopter.

The alarm was raised at five o'clock this morning after a report of a RIB rigid inflatable boat - being in trouble in the Channel, around twenty miles from Hastings.

Lifeboats were summoned from Dover, Dungeness and Eastbourne and the rescue helicopter from Lydd was also called out.

In all, nine people were picked up - two of them are believed to be smugglers.

The other seven are suspected of trying to enter the country illegally.

They were brought into Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne - the nearest base - this afternoon. Their vessel was also towed in.

They were given medical care before being interviewed by Border Force officials.

ITV News Meridian has contacted the Border Force but no one was available to talk to us. However, in a statement, officials said they couldn't comment on an "ongoing operation".

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke told us: "This underlines yet again the extreme lengths people will go to, risking their lives, trying to break into Britain.

"Crossing the Channel in a small inflatable boat during winter is about as dangerous as it gets."