More than 700 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel on Sunday in 11 boats, new figures show – the highest since Labour came to power.

Home Office data showed 703 people were detected coming across on Sunday, which is also the third highest this year.

Eleven boats were detected, suggesting an average of 64 people per boat.

On Sunday, two migrants died trying to cross the Channel.

Their small boat was in French waters when they sent a distress signal to the regional coastguard centre.

About 50 migrants were rescued from the boat by a helicopter and two boats, with “many” pulled out of the water with “fuel burn injuries”, the French maritime regional authorities said.

Those rescued were returned to France, with an investigation into the two deaths being led by France.

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The total number of arrivals in small boats in 2024 now stands at a provisional 18,342.

That is 13% higher than at this point last year, when 16,170 had crossed, but is 3% lower than 2022, which was 18,978 at this stage.

The highest on a single day this year was on 18 June, when 882 people crossed, while the second highest was 711 on 1 May, both before the general election on 4 July.

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