More than 500 migrants are believed to have crossed the English Channel on Wednesday, the highest number in one day so far this year.

The Home Office said in provisional statistics that 514 migrants and 10 small boats were detected crossing on 20 March.

It marks the highest number of crossings in the month of March since records began, and the highest daily figure since 2 December.

It also breaks the previous highest number of crossings this year, when 401 people crossed the Channel on 4 March.

The cumulative number of arrivals by small boats in 2024 now stands at a provisional total of 4,043, 10% higher than the same point in 2023, which saw 3,683.

In total, there were 29,437 arrivals across the whole of 2023.

It is also 25% higher than the total at the same stage in 2022, where 3,229 crossings were recorded.

Barges and RAF bases more expensive than hotels to house asylum seekers – watchdog

Far-right groups ‘hijacking’ anti-migrant protests – including demonstrations against asylum plans at RAF Scampton

‘They don’t see us as humans’: Family’s anger at people smugglers after daughter dies in boat tragedy

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is still looking to implement his Rwanda policy, and said he wants flights deporting asylum seekers to the African country off the ground in the spring.

The House of Lords rejected the latest version of the bill earlier on Thursday.

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