Children moved out of Calais Jungle camp on buses by French authorities

The first bus carrying 43 children left the area at around 8:30am

Unaccompanied minors living near the demolished Jungle camp in Calais, housed in specially outfitted shipping containers, are pictured in a bus leaving for a reception centre (AFP/Getty Images)

Unaccompanied children who have been living near the Calais Jungle camp since it started to be shut down last week are being moved out of the area by French authorities.

There are 1,500 unaccompanied children that are now being moved to reception centres around France.

More than 70 buses have been deployed for the operation. The first bus left the area at around 8:30am on Wednesday carrying 43 children.

The evacuation of the Jungle began on Monday last week, with authorities starting the demolition of the camp the next day.

More than 10,000 refugees and migrants had been living in shacks and tents in the Jungle. It was completely dismantled by Monday night.

The minors left behind had been living temporarily in converted shipping containers.

President Francois Hollande said the children will now be sent to dedicated reception centres where British officials will be able to assess the children’s eligibility for UK asylum, while others will be placed u teg care of French welfare services.

Britain has taken in more than 270 children since mid-October and promised to take in hundreds more, but President Hollande has called on Prime Minister Theresa May to do more by accepting Britain’s share of the children.

British officials have told France to take better care of the minors.

Additional reporting by agencies