A dinghy carrying eight suspected refugees was towed into Dover by a Border Force patrol crew.

The small inflatable boat, which was dragged ashore at about 9.35am on Sunday, had eight males on board who presented themselves as Iranian.

The Home Office said the group was given a medical assessment and will now be interviewed by immigration officials.

In nearby Kingsdown, an inflatable boat carrying six males landed on a beach at about 7am the same day.

The group, who presented themselves as Iraqi and Iranian, also received a medical assessment before being transferred to immigration officials for interview.

At about 8.15am on Sunday, Border Force officials were also called out to Warren Beach, in Folkestone, following reports of an empty inflatable boat.

No people were found in the area, but two males who presented themselves as Iranian and who were "identified as migrants" were detained at Folkestone Police station, according to the Home Office.

They will also be interviewed by immigration officials.

An estimated 170 refugees were feared dead in the Mediterranean on Friday after two dinghies capsized.

One of the small, overloaded boats capsized off the coast of Libya after leaving the country on Thursday night.

Border Force patrol boat in Dover Marina in Kent following migrant rescue in November 2018 (PA)

A second, carrying 53 refugees from Morocco’s shores, was reportedly involved in a collision in the Alboran Sea, according to Spanish non-governmental organisation Caminando Fronteras.

A coastguard spokeswoman said it had been assisting the Border Force on Sunday morning.

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“HM Coastguard is committed to safeguarding life around the seas and coastal areas of this country,” she said.

“We are only concerned with preservation of life, rescuing those in trouble and bringing them safely back to shore, where they will be handed over to the relevant partner emergency services or authorities.”

Home secretary Sajid Javid declared a ‘major incident’ at the end of last year following an influx of refugees attempting to travel to the UK on small boats.