(BBC) Some 44 migrants have been brought to shore in the UK, in the first small boat crossing of the new year.
The migrants were picked up by the UK’s Border Force and taken to Dover.
French authorities say another two boats carrying 80 migrants got into difficulty in the Channel on Monday and were returned to Calais, in France.
Last year, a record 45,756 people succeeded in making the journey — the highest number since records began in 2018.
This marks around a 60% increase on the previous year’s figure.
