Dozens of migrants were rescued by the coastguard after the RNLI was called to seven sightings of people crossing the English Channel in flimsy dinghys.

       A helicopter had to be scrambled, rescuers battled thick fog and a huge tanker had to change course to avoid colliding with the inflatable vessels.

       In the early hours of Thursday, a number of 999 calls were made to the coastguard, and it is understood dinghys were carrying around 30 people.

       They were brought to shore between Dover and Folkestone.

       Among them was a woman who when rescued was drifting in and out of consciousness and a sleeping child being carried in a blanket.

       Very few on board were wearing life jackets, according to witnesses.

       A Home Office source told The Telegraph they were aware of an incident.

       The migrant crossings, in pictures

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