We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again.

HMS Enterprise was called upon today to join the Italian-led mission to provide "life-saving assistance" along with other European ships, which were involved in saving more than 4,000 migrants in 20 operations.

The ship has been deployed to the Mediterranean since July for intelligence gathering as part of a wider European Union mission to detect and disrupt people-smuggling gangs making thousands of pounds from desperate migrants fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "Once again, our Royal Navy has rescued a large number of migrants from the Mediterranean.

"Our focus remains on smashing the criminal smuggling gangs who are putting innocent lives at risk.

"HMS Enterprise is well equipped for that task, as is the frigate HMS Richmond, which we have also now offered to the mission."