A baby and small children are among over 80 migrants who have been brought to shore after a small boat capsized in the English Channel while making the perilous crossing from France.    

Helicopters and lifeboats scrambled to the Kent coast this morning after the boat got into difficult and sent out a mayday to the Coastguard.

Some of the group, which is believed to include a six-month-old baby and two other children, are thought to have been pulled from the water, as emergency crews were called to help Border Force.

No fatalities have been reported at this stage and it is so far unclear whether anyone will need to be taken to hospital.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Channel, French authorities are dealing with a large number of other migrants trying to make the perilous crossing, with reports of police using tear gas against them.

Pictures from Dover appear to show the rescued migrants – including the small children (pictured the children being carried to shore)

A baby and small children are among over 80 migrants who have been brought shore after a small boat capsized in the English Channel 

Border Force vessel Defender was mid channel, according the Marine Traffic website. Defender, as well as Border Force vessel Ranger, have since been spotted at the immigration processing centre in the Western docks at the Port of Dover, Kent

A group of migrants spotted on Gravelines Beach, near Calais, this morning 

Meanwhile, the French authorities are currently dealing with a large number of other migrants attempting to make the crossing – with reports the French police have used tear gas

British and French vessel were sent out to assist the boat- which is believed to have gotten into difficulty halfway between Dover and Calais.

The Dover lifeboat as well as an RNLI Rhib could be seen mid channel off the Cap Griz Nez on the French coast.

Border Force vessel Defender was also mid channel, according the Marine Traffic website.

Defender, as well as Border Force vessel Ranger, have since been spotted at the immigration processing centre in the Western docks at the Port of Dover, Kent. 

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Footage shows French police standing by while migrants head to Britain

Two large coaches are parked up inside the compound waiting nearby while an ambulance also remained on standby near the tent.

People could be seen walking around inside the fenced off area used to process small boat arrivals, with the large gate occasionally opening to allow cars to leave.

Around lunchtime, it was reported that one coach had left the compound and drove northbound heading for the immigration holding centre at Manston near Ramsgate, Kent.  

It remains unconfirmed how the ship got into trouble.

The operation to rescue the occupants of a small boat crossing the Channel has now concluded with ‘all people accounted for and back on land’, a Coastguard spokesperson said.

They said: ‘HM Coastguard has been coordinating the response to a small boat incident in the Channel this morning, June 6.

‘Coastguard helicopters from Lydd and Lee-on-Solent, RNLI lifeboats and Border Force were sent.

‘The search has now concluded with all people accounted for and back on land.’

The RNLI said: ‘Dover RNLI all-weather lifeboat and Walmer inshore lifeboat were tasked by HM Coastguard to launch this morning (6 June) to an incident in the English Channel.’

Charity the International Rescue Committee UK said: ‘This is yet another completely preventable incident in the English Channel and a reminder that deterrence policies don’t work. 

‘People will continue to put their lives at risk if they feel they have no other choice.

Group of migrants seen in the water off the coast of France. Around 80 migrants are understood to have been rescued after a boat got into difficulty while crossing the Channel

Two large coaches are parked up inside the compound waiting nearby while an ambulance also remained on standby near the tent

French police entering the water with tear gas earlier today  

Migrants off the coast of France. Government figures reveal that in past week alone, 331 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in small boats

Since January 1, almost 11,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel on small boats 

A small boat off the coast of France with a French police officer in the water nearby. If Labour win the upcoming General Election, they have pledged to tackle the migrant crisis by pursuing ‘new agreements with France and other countries on returns and family reunion’ 

A deflated dinghy on a beach near Calais today. French police have previously said: ‘When we used to find them with their boats in the dunes, it was much easier, we just slashed the dinghies with knives’

‘The government must scale up safe routes to ensure fewer people are forced to take dangerous journeys in the first place – resettlement schemes, a refugee visa and family reunion schemes are more effective and humane alternatives that would offer orderly routes to protection for refugees.’

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘We continue to work closely with our French partners to prevent crossings and save lives.’

Government figures reveal that in past week alone, 331 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in small boats. 

A shocking 711 people made the treacherous journey on May 1 in 14 boats according the the Home Office.

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80,000 migrants cross the Channel since Rwanda deal announced

This is the highest recorded number of people having made the crossing in a single day. 

Since the government announced its controversial Rwanda scheme more than 80,000 migrants have successfully made the journey. Sir Keir Starmer has said he will cancel the scheme ‘straight away’ if Labour wins. 

If Labour win the upcoming General Election, they have pledged to tackle the migrant crisis by pursuing ‘new agreements with France and other countries on returns and family reunion’ and ‘deeper security co-operation with Europe’.

However, Home Office insiders have told the Mail that similar request for new returns agreements have been rejected by the French government. 

On Gravelines beach at 9.15am yesterday a dozen migrants – mostly young men – up to their knees in the sea were spotted waiting to make the crossing. Police were quickly on the scene, yet they let the migrants wait for more than half an hour in shallow waters as they waited for their ‘taxi boat’. 

Around 30 migrants are seen arriving into Dover Docks yesterday 

A group of migrants are seen in the water on gravelines beach yesterday morning

A group of French police officers are seen standing idly by while a group of migrants headed for Britain. Officers are barred from intercepting people or boats even in ankle-deep water. A police chief at the scene told us: ‘The boat was already in the water – and so were migrants. So we couldn’t touch them’

Officers are barred from intercepting people or boats even in ankle-deep water. A police chief at the scene told us: ‘The boat was already in the water – and so were migrants. So we couldn’t touch them. 

‘When we used to find them with their boats in the dunes, it was much easier, we just slashed the dinghies with knives.’

Up to 18 officers stood between a further 20 or so migrants on the beach – including women, a young girl and a toddler in arms – and those in the water. 

Officers were able to stop the women and children, but the rest simply ran into the waves and stood laughing and shouting as they awaited their ‘taxi’, which arrived at 9.45am.

In total over 125,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in the last six-and-a-half years as the recent crisis unfolded.

The Home Office said 34 people made the journey in one boat on Wednesday, taking the provisional total number of crossings for the year so far to 10,779.