An Iranian man hoping to reach Britain has told Sky News that migrants are being picked up by the French authorities at sea - and he has seen them returning to camps in Calais.

The French authorities have been accused of not doing enough to prevent migrants being smuggled across the Channel.

But the man, who did not want to be named, said: "I know of some who were very near the UK (waters), just one kilometre away, and the French police brought them back to Calais.

"Everywhere is blocked now. I know people who have been picked up by the French coastguard. They bring them back to camp. They are very unhappy because they lose money and they don't know how to try again.

"It's very dangerous and risky."


How are migrants attempting to get across?

Home secretary Sajid Javid is cutting short a family holiday to deal with the rising number of migrants trying to cross the English Channel in small boats.

He is also facing calls to send in the Royal Navy after he declared the situation in the world's busiest shipping lane a "major incident".

A volunteer who works with migrants described how difficult the French coastline is to police.

Maya Konforti of the charity Migrants Inn said there are around a dozen spots between Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk, along a 30-mile (48km) stretch of coast, which would be suitable launch spots for migrant boats.

Image: Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes speaks to HM Coastguard staff in Dover

Ms Konforti is a resident of the coastal village of Wissant, where the beach stretches for seven miles, and from where it is thought some migrants have tried to get across the Channel.

The journey from Wissant to the UK is the shortest sea crossing available - just 20 miles (32km).

She said: "You would have to call up a lot of police to go to all the different spots constantly.

"French police would have to patrol at night. When the tide is high you can't patrol at night and when the tide is in it goes all the way to the cliffs. It's impossible to patrol at high tide."

Kitesurfer Cedric Chadapaux told us: "I've heard people are trying to steal cars to find ways to get across the Channel.

"I've heard that the people helping them are telling them that with Brexit they have to hurry so they can raise the price.

"There's no rocks here so it's good for kitesurfing. However there is a strong current."