Migrants attempting to get into Britain becoming daily occurrence

A small rib abandoned on the Kent coast Credit: ITV Meridan

Attempts by migrants to cross the channel in small boats are now being made almost daily in the rush to make it to England before winter weather.

Evidence suggests that people-smugglers are exploiting Brexit, pressuring migrants to pay up to £10,000 to make the crossing before the March 29 deadline for Britain to leave the European Union.

  • Watch the full report below

Yesterday morning, nine people - thought to be Iranian - were found by cliffs near Folkestone Harbour having crossed the channel in a dinghy.

It followed a series of similar incidents last week.

  • Watch the full interview with MP for Folkestone and Hythe, Damian Collins

On Tuesday, 14 men and three children entered Dover Harbour on a fishing boat thought to have been stolen in Boulogne.

The following day, three boats - with 21 adults and a toddler on board - were intercepted.

On Friday, seven migrants were picked up at Samphire Ho near Dover.

All of them had crossed the channel in small boats and told UK Border Force officials they were Iranian.