Hundreds of migrants spotted crossing Channel on Christmas Day

GB News can confirm that at least 350 small boat migrants have crossed the English Channel so far on Christmas Day.

On Tuesday, GB News exclusively revealed that thousands of migrants were massing along the northern coast of France, preparing to cross to the UK over the Christmas period.

GB News filmed images of many hundreds of migrants around one makeshift camp near Dunkirk.

Hundreds more were seen along the main roads around Dunkirk.

Sources have told GB News that thousands have gathered in multiple locations along a 50 mile stretch of coast from Dunkirk, past Calais and down towards Boulogne.

Poor weather conditions, which had prevented migrant crossings for more than a week, finally gave way late on Christmas Eve to much better conditions in the Channel.

Very light winds have allowed waves in the Channel to die down.

UK and French authorities are on heightened alert for a run of better weather over the next five to six days, which could see more than two thousand migrants cross into UK waters.

Just before 5am today, the Border Force vessel Volunteer arrived in Dover harbour with 110 people taken off two migrant boats.

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GB News Kent producer is reporting a very dangerous situation in the Channel at present, as another four small boats are attempting to cross in very foggy conditions.

The crossings in fog are particularly dangerous, as the large container ships and other vessels in one of the World's busiest shipping lanes cannot see the small migrant boats.

More than 35,000 migrants have made the illegal journey from France so far this year, 20 per cent higher than last year.

In October, the numbers crossing passed the 29,437 who made the journey during the whole of last year.

Yesterday, GB News travelled to the makeshift migrant camp at Grand Synth near Dunkirk.

More than 500 migrants were in that one camp alone.

Many were being fed by local activist groups and charities.

The numbers in and around the coastal camps fluctuate, depending on weather conditions and the schedule for launches prepared by the people smugglers.

Many migrants are camped further inland, but travel to the coast in the hours and days ahead of their planned sailing day.

One small boat smuggler has offered migrants a “Christmas special” deal to illegally cross the Channel.

The smuggler, who uses the name 'Salar' on the Telegram messaging site.

He wrote that he had 15 places available on one small boat.

He said: “From the 25th until the 29th, there will be special offers as the weather is also good – God willing, you will be in England before the new year.”

The UK Prime Minister has vowed to “smash the gangs” and end the small boats crisis.

The Labour Government has signed a number of agreements with other countries to improve law enforcement cooperation in the fight against the smugglers.

But so far, there has been no slowdown in the numbers crossing from France.

A Labour source said: “The Tories left an appalling legacy of broken border security with control of our borders outsourced to criminal gangs.

“We are fixing the foundations with a new Border Security Command, 100 new specialist investigators and new agreements with Europe and beyond to break up the business models of the evil criminal gangs making millions from small boat crossings.

“We are increasing removals of those with no right to be here and are clamping down on illegal working.”