One person has died and another is in a critical condition in hospital after a boat carrying migrants got into trouble in the Channel.

They were among at least 66 people on the inflatable dinghy which got into difficulty about 5 miles (8km) off the French coast, according to the coastguard.

The survivors have been taken to Calais.

The search is continuing by air and sea.

Rescuers reached the craft at 1am local time and found one of the boat’s tubes was deflated and people were in the water.

Two were found unconscious.

One was airlifted to hospital by helicopter, while a second person could not be revived.

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The rescue happened off the coast near Grand-Fort Philippe, 12 miles (20km) east of Calais.

Rishi Sunak has made tackling small boat crossings a key priority.

The prime minister won a critical vote this week at Westminster for emergency legislation aimed at reviving his controversial plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda.

But he faces further opposition from hardliners on the Tory right, who want the draft law strengthened, while this will be resisted by party moderates, who have warned against breaking international law.

Mr Sunak has refused to say how soon flights to Kigali will take off if he gets the bill through the Commons and Lords, where it is also expected to face a rough ride.

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