711 migrants cross Channel in small boats

More than 700 people crossed the English Channel in small boats on Wednesday, the highest number in a single day this year.

The record day of crossings, which saw 711 people and 14 boats detected, came despite the Government pressing on with its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, which it says will act as a deterrent to Channel crossings.

Since Monday, asylum seekers earmarked for deportation have been detained at sites across the UK, including during immigration raids on houses and at routine immigration check-ins.

The Home Office said flights are due to take off to Rwanda in between nine and 11 weeks.

Protesters across the UK are staging demonstrations at Home Office immigration buildings in a bid to block the detentions or offering asylum seekers at risk of Rwanda deportation numbers and contact information for legal help.

Asylum seekers waiting in Calais previously told i that the Rwanda plan would not deter them from crossing, while some said they had not heard of the scheme.

On Monday night, an asylum seeker whose claim had been rejected was offered £3,000 by the Home Office to voluntarily move to Rwanda.

The man, who is of African origin but not from Rwanda, is now living in Kigali under a separate voluntary deportation scheme, The Sun revealed.

This story is being updated.