Two men in kayak among 41 migrants caught by UK Border Force off Kent coast after camp clearances in France

A total of 41 UK-bound migrants, including two in a kayak, have been intercepted in the Channel after a wave of camp clearances in France.

Four small boats were caught heading for British shores by Border Force on Sunday amid sunny weather and relatively calm conditions.

Two men, who said they were an Iranian and an Afghan, were picked up after attempting the perilous voyage in a kayak, the Home Office said.

Another boat carrying 24 migrants, comprising 22 adults and two children, was intercepted, as was a vessel carrying six migrants, comprising five men and one woman.

A further small vessel carrying nine people, seven men and two women, was also caught.

The migrants presented themselves as variously Iranian, Afghan, Turkish and Malian.

All have been medically checked and taken to immigration officials for questioning, the Home Office said.

It comes after at least two Border Force boats were seen pulling into Dover on Sunday morning, carrying around a dozen migrants in orange life-vests.

Border Force have intercepted what is thought to be the highest number of migrants in a single day amid warnings the closure of a French camp could prompt a spike in Channel crossings.

Some 86 men, women and children attempted the journey in small boats on Tuesday, with some managing to land on beaches before being detained.

Refugee charity Care4Calais warned the imminent closure of a gym in Dunkirk, where up to 1,000 migrants are living, is likely to prompt a spike in crossing attempts.

On Friday morning, French police officers - including some apparently armed with tear gas guns - cordoned off the road by an area of wasteland and woodland on the outskirts of the port town of Calais, telling those camping there to leave and move their tents.

The wave of migrant camp evictions and the looming clearance of the 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.

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.

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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 has yet to be released.

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