“Multiple” migrant boats have been picked up by Border Force in the English Channel, the coastguard said.

One vessel landed on a beach near to a nuclear power plant in Dungeness, Kent, police have confirmed.

French authorities said they rescued 58 people from three boats, one of which had 30 migrants on board, including six children and two people with physical difficulties.

A record 202 people in 20 vessels reached the UK on Thursday.

Migrants in DungenessIMAGE COPYRIGHTSUSAN PILCHER
image captionA group of migrants landed on a beach in Dungeness, police said

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.

Two Border Force vessels were deployed, alongside an RNLI lifeboat and coastguard rescue teams, during the latest operation.

The Civilian Nuclear Constabulary said its officers helped Border Force “following a landing by migrants on a beach close to the Dungeness nuclear power plant”.

About 3,400 people have reached the UK in small boats this year, with more than 1,000 arriving in July alone.

Boat in French watersIMAGE COPYRIGHTPREMAR MANCHE
image captionThree boats were picked up in French waters on Friday

Home Office minister Chris Philp MP said on Thursday the number of crossings was “unacceptably high”.

French authorities have stopped thousands of migrants this year, “but more needs to be done,” he said.

“We need stronger enforcement measures, including interceptions at sea and direct return of boats and the French have heard that directly from the home secretary,” he said.

A boat carrying five people was rescued by a French coastguard vessel at about 19:30 on Thursday after getting into difficulty off the coast of Calais.

Boat rescuedIMAGE COPYRIGHTPREMAR MANCHE
image captionA boat was rescued by French authorities on Thursday evening