The first group of children aged under 13 from the Calais 'Jungle' are on a bus to the UK, as officials started the demolition of the camp.

BREAKING NEWS-The first under 13's who qualify under the Alf Dubs amendment are on a bus to safety in the UK #dubsnow -photo @safepassageuk pic.twitter.com/KDRqXogN2j — HelpRefugeesUK (@HelpRefugeesUK) October 25, 2016

A 20-strong crew started tearing down the squalid settlement - which has become a symbol of Europe's worst refugee crisis since the Second World War - on Tuesday afternoon as mass evictions continued for a second day.

:: As it happened: Calais 'Jungle' demolition begins

Earlier, a police officer in charge of clearing the camp told Sky News the demolition had been delayed because the operation to evacuate was going well and more migrants were leaving voluntarily.

The authorities wanted to encourage as many people as possible to leave before the demolition began.


Image: Processing minors is a priority as there are fears they could be lost amid the clearance chaos at the 'Jungle' in Calais Image: Migrants who claim to be minors wait for their registration and evacuation from the camp in France Image: Minors are brought to the front of the registration queue Image: The first under-13s who qualify under the Dubs amendment are on a bus to safety in the UK. Pic: Safe Passage UK Image: French anti-riot police stand guard as migrants queue to leave the camp Image: Migrants queue in front of a registration centre on the second day of the evacuation to reception centres in France Image: Migrants are processed to be evacuated to shelters across France Image: They are being given a coloured wristband to indicate which French region they are being transferred to Image: Sudanese migrants from the 'Jungle', at the Chateau des Arts in Talence, which has been converted into a shelter Image: Some migrants leave the camp with their belongings Image: Several thousand migrants still remain on site Image: The camp is expected to be demolished by the end of the week - once all its residents have been evacuated Image: British volunteers dismantle one of the shelters at the camp Image: French riot police look on as a migrant in the camp gathers his belongings Image: The police presence within the camp appears to be growing on day two of the 'Jungle' clearance Image: Machinery arrives on site to begin the demolition of the Calais 'Jungle' camp Image: Workers start dismantling the Calais 'Jungle' camp Image: French police ask migrants to leave the area as the demolition of the camp begins Image: A shack is set on fire during the demolition Image: Women take part in a protest calling on the UK government to help female migrants of the camp Image: A pile of belongings is pictured at the camp as shelters are dismantled Image: Inside a shelter for around 60 female migrants, mainly from Eritrea and Ethiopia Image: Women prepare a meal inside a shelter in Norrent-Fontes Image: French riot police secure the area near a burning shelter set ablaze in protest /

They had hoped to register and relocate 3,000 people on Monday. By the end of the day, just under 2,000 had left on buses to other asylum centres in France.

There were minor scuffles earlier on Tuesday as large groups of minors gathered at the registration warehouse gate.

A proportion of those aged under 18 have a chance to be relocated to the UK under the Dubs Amendment of the Immigration Act. This has led to large numbers gathering in the registration queue.

This will present a challenge for British authorities as they ascertain who should be admitted and who should be rejected.

Police clearing 'Jungle' camp in Calais

Charity Help Refugees UK tweeted to say the first group of minors aged under 13 had been cleared to resettle in Britain.

Work to begin clearing the camp, which was home to between 6,000 and 8,000 refugees, began on Monday.

:: Why is the Calais 'Jungle' being destroyed? Your questions answered

The first 2,000 migrants, including 300 children, hauled their luggage through the camp's muddy lanes to join crowds of people who queued from dawn until dusk to be registered by French authorities.

They were divided into groups of families, minors, vulnerable or ill people and people travelling alone, before being loaded on dozens of buses under a heavy police presence.

Calais child migrants arrive in Devon town

Though some small scuffles broke out and punches were thrown, France's Interior Minister said the operation proceeded in a generally "calm and orderly manner."

It is the fate of hundreds of unaccompanied children, however, that has become a chief concern, with charities warning they could become lost in the chaos of the clearance.

The minors are the only group permitted to remain in the camp. They will be housed in shipping containers in a secure area of the camp where they will wait to be assessed by French and British authorities to decide where they will be sent.

:: Picture mocking refugees posted in Parliament

Home Secretary: 'Calais is the symptom of a wider migration crisis'

The Government has faced criticism over the pace of efforts to transfer children with a right to be in the UK.

Some of the first wave of arrivals earlier this week provoked speculation over their ages amid suggestions some appeared to look much older than teenagers.

Around 200 children have been transferred to the UK so far - including 60 girls identified as at high risk of sexual exploitation.

British Home Secretary Amber Rudd has indicated unaccompanied refugee children will not be able to sponsor their parents to come and join them in the UK.

The UK is contributing £36m to help French authorities in the closure of the camp, which is expected to be completely destroyed by the end of the week.

French authorities say those who agree to be relocated can apply for asylum in France. Those who refuse face possible deportation.