16 Migrants Detained As Three Boats Land On Uk Shores

Sixteen male migrants have been detained after three small boats landed on UK shores, authorities said.

The men, most of whom claimed to be Iranian, had medical checks after the perilous voyages before being taken for questioning by immigration officials on Sunday, the Home Office said.

Eight had been crammed into a small dinghy which was towed to Dover, Kent, by the Border Force at around 9.35 am on Sunday.

Their vessel had reportedly first been spotted by fishermen and the occupants were seen wrapped in blankets on Sky News footage.

Six men, who said they were either Iranian or Iraqi, were detained after earlier being spotted on a beach in Kingsdown, north east of Dover.

A further two men were detained after an abandoned dinghy was spotted on Warren Beach, in Folkestone, around 14 miles away.