Dinghy carrying up to eight suspected migrants 'towed to Dover' by Border Force officials

Suspected migrants crammed into a small dinghy have been towed to the coast at Dover by a Border Force patrol vessel, new footage appears to show.

Aerial footage shot by Sky News shows people aboard the boat as it was brought into shore.

The boat was first spotted by fishermen on Sunday morning, the broadcaster reported.

The suspected migrants looked to be wrapped in blankets as they came ashore and were passed over to officials.

The dinghy is one of three believed to have made landfall in Kent this weekend.

It comes after a recent rise in the number of migrants attempting to cross the English Channel from France in small boats, despite government attempts to discourage the journey.

The Home Office did not immediately comment on the latest incident.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid cut short his Christmas break last month to deal with what he described as a "major incident" unfolding in waters off the south coast.

Following several incidents over Christmas, he redeployed two Border Force cutters from the Mediterranean.

He has also questioned whether those trying to cross the channel are “genuine asylum seekers.”

Mr Javid has promised to do more to tackle the issue, saying it is of "grave concern" that people are attempting the perilous crossing.

The Home Office did not immediately comment on the latest incident.

Also on Sunday, images emerged from Kingsdown, north east of Dover, apparently showing a discarded dinghy on a beach next to abandoned life jackets, Sky News reported.

A coastguard spokeswoman said it had been assisting the Border Force on Sunday morning, adding: "HM Coastguard is committed to safeguarding life around the seas and coastal areas of this country.

"We are only concerned with preservation of life, rescuing those in trouble and bringing them safely back to shore, where they will be handed over to the relevant partner emergency services or authorities."

Meanwhile, up to 170 migrants are feared dead after two accidents in which dinghies sank in the Mediterranean after leaving North Africa for Europe.