Germany has called on Britain to take more of a share of migrants coming into Europe.

Interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said along with other countries it needed to be ‘more aware’ of its responsibilities as a member of the European Union.

He made his call for the British to welcome more refugees after it was revealed Germany expects to receive 800,000 asylum applications this year – more than all 28 EU countries combined in 2014.

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An ally of the German chancellor Angela Merkel said along with other countries it needed to be ‘more aware’ of its responsibilities as a member of the European Union

Britain is not of the Schengen area of 26 European countries that have removed all border checks and passport controls between each other.

It has an opt-out on taking part in a scheme to distribute migrants arriving into the EU between different countries and has so far refused.

Mr de Maiziere told the BBC: ‘Of course Britain has a special role - it is not part of Schengen - but all EU countries must become more aware of their responsibilities.’

When pressed on whether he thought Britain specifically should take more refugees, he replied: ‘Yes’.

He repeated a warning the Schengen Agreement could be ‘in danger’ because other countries are not following EU rules.

Migrants wanting asylum are supposed to register in the first safe country they get to.

Britain has an opt-out on taking part in a scheme to distribute migrants arriving into the EU between different countries and has so far refused

However, even though most arrive in Greece and Italy after crossing the Mediterranean, they are heading north to other countries before making their claims.

He said: ‘If nobody sticks to the law, then Schengen is in danger, that's why we urgently need European solutions.’

The EU has warned that it is currently facing ‘the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War’.

Its border agency Frontex has said some 340,000 migrants have arrived already this year.