20 rescued from sinking boat off Kent coast

New powers have been introduced to help stop illegal immigrants from entering the South.

Immigration officers can now stop and board any vessel they suspect is breaking the law.

At the weekend, 18 Albanian migrants were found in a dinghy off the Kent coast. Their boat was taking on water less than a mile off Dymchurch, close to Folkestone.

Increased security at the Channel Tunnel has led to more migrants attempting other routes into Britain.

Watch Charlotte Wilkins' report below:

Twenty people are being questioned after they were rescued from an inflatable boat off the Kent Coast.

A helicopter and two lifeboats were called out to Dymchurch just after midnight when the boat began taking on water.

At least two people were suffering from hypothermia.

Andrea Thomas reports:

Andrea spoke to pub owner Alan Davis and holidaymaker Heather Hopkins.

Border force officials have confirmed that 18 Albanians and two Britons are being questioned, after they were rescued from a boat that starting sinking off the coast of Kent overnight.

It's been reported that some of the passengers phoned relatives in Calais to let them know they were in trouble.

The French authorities were then alerted and contacted the UK coastguard.

A search and rescue helicopter was mobilised from nearby Lydd airport just before midnight on Saturday.

Two lifeboats with coastguard rescue teams from Dungeness and Folkestone began the search, off the coast near Dymchurch.

About two hours later, a rigid-hulled inflatable boat, known as a rhib, was found.

Initial reports were that 19 people were on board, but the UK border Force has since said that 20 people are being questioned.

The group have been taken to Dover.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has just issued this statement in relation to their rescue of 19 people last night:

Nineteen migrants have been rescued from a sinking inflatable off the Kent coast.

The coastguard helicopter was scrambled just before midnight following reports the rigid-hulled dinghy had been spotted taking on water off the coast of Dymchurch.

Lifeboats from Dungeness and Littlestone and coastguard crews from Dungeness and Folkestone were also called into action.

Those on board are now being looked after by the UK Border Force.