Migrants arrive in Dover after Channel crossings top 17,000 for the year

Pictures show new arrivals of people getting off a Border Force vessel at the Kent port, some covered in blankets.

Thousands of people have made the crossing so far this year (PA) (PA Wire)

Migrants wearing life jackets arrived in Dover on Monday after more than 17,000 Channel crossings were recorded for the year so far.

Pictures show new arrivals of people getting off a Border Force vessel at the Kent port, with most wearing life jackets, while some carried belongings and were covered in blankets.

The crossings comes as Home Office data recorded 139 people arriving in three boats on August 4, taking the provisional total for the year so far to 17,170.

The number of arrivals for 2024 to date is 15% higher than this time last year (14,994) but 3% down on the same period in 2022 (17,611), according to PA news agency analysis of Government data.