Police launch hunt for migrants after abandoned inflatable boat found

There have been at least 16 attempts by migrants trying to get to Britain since Christmas Day in the Channel

1) Dec 25, unknown time – Dover – five migrants sail into Dover port and light a fire on the beach before handing themselves in to police

2) Dec 25, 2.40am – Folkestone – a girl is one of eight migrants found after arriving on a boat

3) Dec 25, 4.30am – off the coast of Deal, Kent – 13 migrants, including one child, rescued in the Channel

4) Dec 25, 5.50am – Channel – dinghy travelling towards the UK with seven men and a woman intercepted

5) Dec 25, unknown time – French side of Channel – nine migrants rescued by French officials after engine failed but transferred to English authorities

6) Dec 25, 9.20am – eight miles off coast of Dover – two migrants in a rowing boat are rescued

7) Dec 26, 12.30am – ten miles off France in Channel – three migrants intercepted and taken to Dover

8) Dec 26, 1.45am – off the coast of Sangatte, near Calais – 11 migrants intercepted and returned to Boulogne

9) Dec 27, 12,30am – off Battery Point, Folkestone – nine migrants including three children intercepted after dinghy came ashore

10) Dec 27, 8.30am – Shakespeare Beach, Dover – six Iranian men found after coming ashore

11) Dec 27, 8.45am – off the coast of Dover – eight Iranian men rescued from a rib and taken to Dover

12) Dec 27, 11.30pm – off the coast of Calais – 11 adult men, including five in a state of hypothermia, rescued and taken to Boulogne

13) Dec 28, 3am – off coast of Dover – one Syrian and three Iranian men found in rib

14) Dec 28, 9am – in the Channel – eight Iranian men rescued from a small boat and taken to Dover

15) Dec 30, 7.30am – Kingsdown beach near Dover – six Iranian men land in a dingy

16) Dec 31, 8am – Greatstone, near Lydd-on-Sea – 12 people arrive and are detained 

17) Jan 7, 8am-  Dungeness on Romney Marsh- up to six people are thought to have landed after an abandoned vessel with life jackets and fuel was found

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