More than 650 migrants crossed the English Channel on Saturday - the highest number so far this year. Home Office figures revealed 656 asylum seekers were detected on 11 boats, heaping more pressure on Sir Keir Starmer's "smash the gangs" plan.

It is also the highest daily number since October. More than 8,000 migrants have now crossed the Channel this year, a record for this time of year. Fisherman Matt Coker - who has witnessed scores of crossings - said the French navy are “escorting” small boats “through the shipping lane to give them a safe passage”.

He said the crisis has got worse “in the last six months”, adding that smugglers are launching “lots of boats all at the same time… on every possible day”.

Revealing how he heard British and French officials discussing handing out lifejackets over the radio, Mr Coker said: “The French, they're giving them lifejackets now because so many of them are not getting in the boats with lifejackets. I suppose...they're trying to avoid another tragedy.

“And they'll give them life jackets if they haven't got life jackets. And then they ask for the lifejackets back off the British once they've picked them up and the transfer has been made.”

He added: "The French are actually escorting them through the shipping lane to give them a safe passage. And they're only making half the journey now.

“So ... I suppose it is safer, but it almost seems to me like it might be encouraging the problem as well.

"It's safer for you to cross the Channel now than it's ever been because you'll have an escort from when you leave the beach and you'll be given safe passage and you'll only have to make half the journey because the UK Border Force will be waiting on the border to pick you up, rather than waiting well within UK waters.

“The people smugglers can quite honestly say to the people they are smuggling, it is safer for you to cross the Channel now than it ever has been because you will have an escort from when you leave the beach and you’ll only have to make half the journey because the UK Border Force will be waiting on the border to pick you up.

"In the last six months, it seems to have gone back to what it was two or three years ago, which is, I mean, there seems to be lots of boats all at the same time coming on every possible day, whereas before that, it did seem to... It slowed up to just a few boats a day and it was only when the weather was perfect, you know.

“Whereas now they seem to be leaving the beaches more often.

“It’s almost as if they have admitted they can’t stop it. So they are going to make it as safe and controlled as possible, which I do think is encouraging the problem.”

This is a breaking story. More to follow.