People trying to cross the English Channel from France to the UK had their dinghy punctured with a knife and their outboard motor smashed by French police.

They were trying to travel from Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk in France, to the UK on Saturday afternoon.

The 45 people who were all stopped could be seen crossing the beach hauling a black dinghy over their heads.

Shortly before trying to set off for the UK, they were intercepted by French police who punctured their dinghy with a knife causing the group to scatter.

The police operation was a tense three-hour-long wait between officers and asylum seekers, who were waiting behind the dunes.

A reporter and photographer from the Daily Mail lay in the sand at the water’s edge between 6.30pm and sunset.

From there, two police officers could be seen monitoring a group of 18 young men who were moving through the scrubland.

Officers appeared to use pepper spray on one man who fell to his knees.

Police smashed their outboard engine with a hammer but no arrests were made.

According to the Ministry of Defence, on the same day 10 small boats carrying 337 people launched from the French coast and made it to the UK.

This year, some 18,000 people have crossed over the Channel.

On Monday, 80 asylum seekers were brought into Dover on board a Border Force boat shortly before 7am.

Gravelines has been used by five smuggling gangs, who are using brazen tactics to smuggle people across.

Elia Carpentier, 20, works at the tourist office on the beach front and said a boat left the beach at 7pm on Friday.

She said: ‘I was really surprised because normally they leave when the sun goes down or at dawn.

‘The boat waited for them at the edge of the water. I’m not sure how many got on but there were men, women and children in the group.

‘At the far end of the beach there is a campsite and beyond that is a forest.

‘They set up camp there for one or two nights before waiting for a boat. They just leave their stuff – I see it when I walk my dog.’

A Government spokesperson said: ‘The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable.

‘Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws, but they risk lives and hinder our ability to help refugees who come to the UK through safe and legal routes.

‘The Nationality and Borders Act will enable us to crack down on abuse of the system and the evil people smugglers, who will now be subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

‘Under our new Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, we are continuing preparations to relocate those who are making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys into the UK in order for their claims to be considered and rebuild their lives.’

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