Theresa May has defended Britain's response to the migrant crisis

Hard-line Home Secretary Theresa May has called for migrants fleeing across the Mediterranean to be sent back to north Africa - in a bid to stop more refugees following them.

Mrs May, speaking in Luxembourg today ahead of talks on the growing emergency, admitted the crisis was 'reaching our borders' in the UK.

But the Tory minister maintained Britain would not take part in any scheme to 'redistribute' the estimated 60,000 migrants who have made their way to Italy in Greece.

Mrs May's intervention came after Italy threatened to inflict a 'wound' on Europe if it did not receive more help from other EU states.

The country's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi yesterday threatened to 'wound' Europe by handing thousands of migrants European travel documents giving them the freedom to travel north.

Italian interior minister Angelino Alfano today demanded an 'equal distribution of migrants' across the continent.

But the plan is being resisted by a number of countries in the borderless Schengen zone, while Britain has indicated it will use an opt-out to avoid taking part.

Save The Children stepped up the pressure on UK ministers by calling for Britain to agree to take in 1,500 unaccompanied youngsters who had made the crossing to Europe.

Arriving in Luxembourg today Mrs May said: 'Of course the crisis in terms of migrants who cross the Mediterranean is a problem in two ways.

'First of all, obviously, lives are being put at risk but secondly, as we see in Calais and elsewhere, it's putting great pressure on European towns and cities which is even reaching to our borders, although we are not part of the borderless Schengen area.

'To deal with this issue in the long term we need to go after the criminal gangs who are plying a terrible, callous trade in human lives.

'We also need to break the link between people getting into the boats and reaching Europe. That means returning people to North Africa or elsewhere, or to their home countries; so that they see that there is no merit in this journey.

'It also means development work in the countries of origin so that we can ensure people no longer have the same incentive to try to get into these boats and risk their lives.'

Italian police officers remove an African migrant in Ventimiglia, at the Italian-French border today, as the crisis threatened to spill over into a diplomatic crisis

The European Commission has proposed redistributing around 60,000 Syrian and Eritrean asylum seekers from Italy and Greece to other member states

Asked about the British response Mrs May said: 'The UK is working with other European countries in a number of ways. We are putting effort into the search and rescue that is taking place - HMS Bulwark but also two Border Force cutters, they are doing that work alongside others.

'But we are also working to deal with these terrible criminal gangs who are making a profit out of human lives and human misery. That is essential work.

'Of course as the UK we also put effort into development aid to help these countries, to stabilise them, to provide the economy that means there is no longer the incentive for the journey.'

Italy's PM Mr Renzi upped the ante yesterday by suggesting he could begin granting temporary residence permits, which would allow the arrivals free movement into other Schengen states.

In an interview with the Corriere della Sera newspaper, Mr Renzi insisted it was unacceptable that his country was having to bear the brunt of the migration.

'If the European Council chooses solidarity, then good. If it doesn't we have a Plan B ready but that would be a wound inflicted on Europe,' he said.

Italian PM Matteo Renzi has threatened to hand thousands of migrants European travel documents

His interior minister Mr Alfano, speaking to Sky TG24, arrived for the talks today demanding more action.

He said: 'I will say with great clarity: kids, either we do equal distribution of migrants in Europe, or we organise refugee camps in Libya, or we organise a serious policy of repatriation.'

David Cameron is expected to discuss the issue with Mr Renzi when they meet in Milan tomorrow. No final decisions are likely before the European Council summit later this month.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'We do not support relocation. We think our approach should be focused on not creating further pull factors for migrants.'

Save The Children urged the Government to take in a 'fair share' of youngsters who make the crossing to Europe and increase the number of families fleeing Syria that are offered sanctuary in the UK.

The charity said that more than 5,000 children, many of them travelling without their parents, were among the 54,000 people who have landed in Italy so far this year.

The charity's chief executive Justin Forsyth said: 'Britain showed real leadership by deploying HMS Bulwark to help restart rescue operations in the Mediterranean - the Navy is doing incredible work, rescuing nearly 3,000 people in the last weeks alone.

'Without the rescue boats, children would potentially have drowned off the shores of Europe. We ask that people all over Britain join us in saying a heartfelt thank you to the crew of HMS Bulwark for their life-saving work.

'But European leaders must acknowledge the problem doesn't go away when people are brought to shore. For many migrants, including lone children at risk from people traffickers, their ordeal isn't over when they land in Europe. Italy and Greece cannot be expected to bear the brunt of this issue - this is an Europe-wide problem that requires an Europe-wide solution.'

'It's up to the Government to decide how they deal with this issue, whether unilaterally or through a joint EU process, but we know that they must act.