Nearly 1,000 people evicted from migrant camp in France amid hygiene and security concerns

Nearly 1,000 migrants were evicted by police from a gym and a nearby camp close to the English Channel.

French riot police today evacuated at least 900 migrants amid concerns over security and hygiene.

A spokesman for the Nord region said the migrants being removed from the town of Grande-Synthe included an unspecified number of children with their families.

A count carried out by charities last week found there were 73 families there - many of whom had young children.

The eviction is the largest in more than a year and the camp's imminent closure is suspected to have led to an increase in the number of migrant crossings to the UK.

Officials told AP the migrants are being taken to temporary shelters and allowed to apply for asylum.

The clearance took place after a court order was issued - reportedly in a bid to stop people smugglers coming into the gym and targeting their victims as well as to stem violence in the area.

Border Force and immigration officers were seen observing the process. The Home Office said its staff were invited by the French authorities to attend as part of its work with the UK to tackle the number of attempted boat crossings.

Araf Mohamed, 23, had been staying at the encampment for five days after leaving Syria.

He told The Guardian: "I have health problems. I was hit by a bomb explosion in Syria and lost a hand.

"There are pieces of the bomb that I want to get removed in the UK.”

Officials said the migrants were being taken to temporary shelters and allowed to apply for asylum.

But Sarah Berry, 47, who volunteers for Care4Calais, said: “There are a lot of refugees very concerned they are not going to be taken to a reception centre but a deportation centre.

"We don’t know where they are being taken to. We’ve been kept in the dark.”

She added that the evictions would not deter people from attempting to cross the Channel into the UK.

It comes after small boats carrying migrants were intercepted off the Kent coast on Sunday.

At least two Border Force vessels, carrying what appeared to be around a dozen migrants in orange life-vests, were seen pulling into Dover on Sunday morning.

It is understood more UK-bound boats were caught before reaching British shores - although events are still unfolding.

The Home Office said it was "aware of ongoing incidents".

The wave of migrant camp evictions and the looming clearance of a Dunkirk gym - currently thought to be housing more than 70 families, many of whom have young children - came after a French court order was issued.

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On Friday, the National Crime Agency said six people suspected of being part of organised crime groups smuggling migrants across the Channel in lorries and small boats had been arrested this week.

The number of migrants taken in by UK authorities so far this year is thought to have already passed 1,000.

Border Force cutters are continuing to patrol the Channel while drones, CCTV and night vision goggles are used.

Last month, Home Secretary Priti Patel said urgent action was needed to put a stop to the tide of crossings, after she met French interior minister Christophe Castaner in Paris.

More detail on the action plan is yet to be released.

A record 86 crossed the Channel and reached the UK in a single day last week.

Additional reporting by agencies.

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