The first buses carrying migrants from the 'Jungle' camp have left for shelters in central France ahead of the demolition of the camp.

The first bus to leave the notorious site had on board around 50 Sudanese and was headed for the Burgundy region.

It left less than an hour after the official start of the week-long, complex operation, unprecedented in Europe, to shut down the camp.

LIVE: Mass evictions begin in Calais 'Jungle'

Image: Migrants are receiving wristbands which say where they will be relocated to

Under the watchful eye of more than 1,200 police, queues formed of migrants with their belongings at official registration points on Monday morning.


Many thousands have made treacherous journeys to escape wars, dictators and poverty - and dreamed of starting a better life in Britain.

Migrants being transferred received their designated wristbands - the colour of which indicated where their next destination would be.

Some 60 buses carrying around 3,000 migrants and refugees from the 'Jungle' were expected to leave the site on Monday for temporary reception centres scattered across France.

Clashes in final hours of Calais 'Jungle'

Hotels and even castles are among the hundreds of venues officials have been converting to migrant housing ahead of the big move.

The process will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the actual demolition of the camp expected to get under way tomorrow.

By the end of the week it will have been emptied and destroyed.

At least 6,500 refugees, many of them families and 1,291 unaccompanied children, are believed to be living at the camp.

:: Why is the Calais 'Jungle' being destroyed?

Image: Migrants with their luggage queue near buses

Those who refuse to leave Calais risk being arrested and deported, charities have warned.

Many don't know where they will be sent.

Amadou Diallo, from Guinea Conakry in West Africa, said: "I hope this works out. I'm alone and I just have to study.

"It doesn't matter where I end up, I don't really care."

British and French authorities have faced particular criticism over their handling of unaccompanied children, with charities and aid groups describing their handling of the issue as "shambolic".

:: First Calais 'Jungle' children with no UK links arrive in UK

Dozens of minors have come to the UK in recent days, including the first under the so-called Dubs amendment to the Immigration Act which allows the most at-risk child refugees in Italy, Greece and France to be taken to the UK for sanctuary.

Coach carrying 80 Calais children arrives in London

But Sky's Europe Correspondent Mark Stone, at the camp, said French and British authorities are racing against time to assess hundreds more, still stranded in the camp. It is feared some could be lost in the chaos of the demolition.

The process of clearing the notorious Calais 'Jungle' camp has begun smoothly, following clashes overnight.

Charity workers are hopeful of a smooth process, however, there are concerns tensions will increase once the deconstruction begins.

Fabrice Durieux, from the charity Salam, said: "There's a risk tensions increase in the week because at some point the bulldozers are going to have to come in."