This comes as 11 boats launched from Europe's coastline today, heading for the UK

Four migrants have died and more than half a dozen others have been injured in separate incidents in the English Channel overnight.

Three women were pulled unconscious from one migrant boat that left a beach near Dunkirk after 3am this morning.

Another migrant, a man believed to be in his 30s, died when a so-called taxi boat got into difficulties near a beach south of Boulogne around midnight.

Six others, including a one-year-old baby, were rushed to hospital.

The three female migrants were on board an overcrowded dinghy with more than 70 others.

French rescue services were alerted to the ongoing emergency and the three women were treated on shore.

However, emergency crews were unable to revive them and they were declared dead at the scene.

Seven other migrants onboard the dinghy were also pulled to safety.

Following the tragedy, the boat continued on its journey to the UK.

The vessel is now just about to enter British waters, with two Border Force vessels waiting to pick up the occupants.

Migrants aboard will be taken to Dover harbour shortly after being intercepted.

The boat involved in the other tragedy was "neutralised" by French authorities, and those on board were brought ashore at Hardelot beach, south of Boulogne.

The two tragedies unfolded just hours after the biggest day of illegal migrant crossings this year so far.

GB News counted more than 730 illegal immigrants as they arrived in Dover throughout the day.

It takes the number who have crossed the Channel since Andy Burnham took office to more than 1,600.

One maritime security source told GB News: "What we're seeing here is a full-frontal assault by the criminal gangs.

"For weeks, they've been frustrated by increased police patrols, hampering their ability to launch boats from their regular push-off points around Calais and Dunkirk.

"That's forced a switch in tactics, with most launches happening up to a hundred miles south of Dunkirk, around the Dieppe area."

The insider also suggested new tactics could pose further problems when trying to intercept small boat migrants.

"What we're seeing is the kind of surge tactics we haven't seen in the Channel for quite some time. It's an attempt to overwhelm and stretch the French police.

"Even with the millions of pounds of extra funding the French are getting from the UK, they still can't be everywhere at once.

"And there's no doubt this has worked today. Hundreds have already managed to cross, and the day is far from over."

A Government spokesman said: "We are deeply saddened to hear about these deaths.

"Every death in the Channel is a tragedy and a stark reminder of the dangers posed by criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable people for profit.

"We will continue working relentlessly with the French and our partners overseas to prevent these perilous journeys.

"The French authorities are leading the response and investigation into this incident."