More than 40 suspected migrants have been intercepted in the English Channel and brought ashore at Dover, including women and children.

They arrived off the Kent coast on several boats and a large-scale search and rescue operation has been launched by British and French patrol boats.

HM Coastguard said it is responding to “a number of incidents” off the coast, along with Kent Police, Border Force and other agencies.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency told Sky News: “HM Coastguard is co-ordinating a search and rescue response to a number of incidents off Kent this morning, working with Border Force, Kent Police and other partners.

“Border Force vessels Searcher, Speedwell and Alert have been sent, along with RNLI lifeboats from Dover and Littleston, a fixed wing aircraft and an HM Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter from Lydd.

“HM Coastguard is only concerned with preservation of life, rescuing those in trouble and bringing them safely back to shore, where they will be handed over to the relevant partner emergency services or authorities.”

It is understood the group will be medically assessed before being interviewed by immigration officials.

Witnesses said some were carried off on stretchers to waiting ambulances, while others wrapped in blankets were checked over by paramedics.

The Home Office confirmed to Sky News that Border Force is dealing with “small boat incidents” off the Kent coast.

Footage from the scene showed people being escorted off the Home Office’s patrol cutter Searcher.

It comes after nearly 200 migrants risked their lives to try and cross the Channel to the UK in just one week last month – despite repeated warnings about the dangers of making the trip.

It is the world’s busiest shipping lane, with between 500 and 600 vessels passing through the narrow strait every day.

In December, 69 migrants were intercepted attempting to cross the Channel in small boats, while Border Force officials in November intercepted four boats in one day carrying 39 Iranian migrants.

The government has previously described the surge in migrant crossings as a “major incident”.

Tony Eastaugh, Home Office director for crime and enforcement, said: “We are tackling illegal migrant crossings on all fronts with every agency including Border Force, Immigration Enforcement, NCA and policing teams working in tandem with the French and Belgian authorities.

“We have extra patrols on French beaches, drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment which has been deployed to stop small boats leaving European shores.

“And it’s working. Last year 100 people smugglers were convicted for a total of 320 years.”

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