
More than 180 migrants have stormed a border between Morocco and the Spanish territory of Ceuta, it has emerged.

Security guards were unable to stop the refugees as they ran through the enclave's check point in the early hours of this morning.

Footage of the incident broadcast on local television showed the migrants from sub-Saharan Africa sprinting over the border from the Moroccan side while it was still dark at about 5am.

Once on Spanish soil, they celebrated, raising their hands in joy as they ran through the streets and one man kneeling on the floor.

More than 180 migrants have stormed a border between Morocco and the Spanish territory of Ceuta, it has emerged

Security guards were unable to stop the refugees as they ran through the enclave's check point in the early hours of this morning

Footage of the incident broadcast on local television showed the migrants from sub-Saharan Africa sprinting over the border from the Moroccan side while it was still dark at about 5am

Once on Spanish soil, they celebrated, raising their hands in joy as they ran through the streets and one man kneeling on the floor

An injured migrant waits for medical attention after entering the Spanish territory in the city of Ceuta, Spanish enclave in northern Africa, early this morning

The Spanish outposts of Ceuta and Melilla in northern Morocco, which have the European Union's only land borders with Africa, are tempting launch pads for clandestine immigration to continental Europe

Ceuta and Melilla, another Spanish territory on Morocco's northern border, have the EU's only land borders with Africa.

As a result, they are entry points for migrants desperate to get to Europe and who regularly try to climb the high border fences, swim along the coast or hide in vehicles crossing the frontier.

A police spokesman, however, said this type of border-crossing attempt - sprinting through manned posts - was very rare.

Ceuta and Melilla, another Spanish territory on Morocco's northern border, have the EU's only land borders with Africa

A police spokesman said this morning that this type of border-crossing attempt - sprinting through manned posts - was very rare

On entering, the migrants head for temporary migrant accommodation centers. They are eventually repatriated or let go

The thousands of sub-Saharan African migrants living illegally in Morocco normally try to scale the border fences surrounding Ceuta and Melilla, Spain's other North African enclave, in their bid to enter Europe

The Red Cross said it had assisted 186 people following the morning rush across the border, adding that four migrants were taken to hospital

Once inside Spain's enclaves, migrants are usually taken to temporary shelters and later moved to the Spanish mainland, or returned to their country of origin

'It's been a long time since we've had any attempt of this kind here,' he said.

The migrants who reached Ceuta were eventually rounded up and taken to a reception centre, where they can apply for asylum in Spain.

Ceuta is ringed by a double wire fence five miles long. The 18ft-high fence also has rolls of barbed wire.

Last week, about 200 migrants stormed the high border fence, with 73 managing to get through using wire cutters and mallets.