An Eritrean man has become the second migrant to be deported to France under the Government's “one in, one out” deal after losing a High Court bid to have his removal temporarily blocked, the Home Office said. But in a sign that the new scheme is failing to deter small boat crossings, hundreds of migrants were seen making an attempt to cross the Channel today.

The Government says the removals, which are possible due to a deal signed with France, will deter people from crossing the Channel in small boats because they will know there is a risk of being swiftly returned. But at least one inflatable dinghy full of young men made its way out to sea from Gravelines beach, north east Calais, at daybreak on Friday morning.

As the boat came close to shore, people waded through waist high water towards it and a child was passed aboard before it went out to sea, PA reports.

In the town itself, at about 5.30am, a group of 40 young men suddenly appeared from a quiet side street carrying an inflatable boat over their heads before launching it into a canal.

Police officers watched on from the bank as the driver of the boat struggled to keep it in a straight line.

Earlier in the night, a group of men formed a human chain to help haul people out of the mud after a failed attempt to launch a boat in the canal.

It comes a day after the first deportation of a migrant under the scheme, which came into force last month and seeks to remove those who crossed the English Channel back to the continent.

This is in exchange for those who apply in France and are approved to come to Britain.

The Home Office said the UK “will accept legal migrants through a new safe route in the coming days”.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the return showed people crossing the Channel that “if you enter the UK illegally, we will seek to remove you”.

She said she would “continue to challenge any last-minute, vexatious attempts to frustrate a removal in the courts”.

The returns agreement had faced growing scrutiny after reports of flights for removals being cancelled earlier this week.