Migrants on small boats risking everything in the English Channel

Against a backdrop of a calm and warm summer’s day, several crammed inflatables full of desperate people edges closer to the UK, live footage shows. The boats, quietly carrying illegal immigrants who wave at rescue boats trying to intercept them, have one mission – and that’s to get to Dover in Kent, where the desperate individuals hope to begin a new life.  The perilous journey from Calais to the UK coastline is dangerous and life-threatening, as those agreeing to battle the Channel’s choppy waters are also vowing to share the world’s busiest shipping lanes with commercial ferries. Express.co.uk’s investigations editor, Zak GarnerPurkis, has this morning gone to the east Kent location – renowned for its White Cliffs, but now also the epicentre of the small boats crisis.  On-board a fishing vessel, named Portia, in the middle of the Channel, Matthew Coker, a charter fishing skipper, showed the tracking of ships and boats nearby.  He laid bare the situation this morning, as a French border vessel ‘escorted’ one dinghy filled with migrants over to British soil – while trying to manouvre through an already congested sea-zone.  It comes as officials anticipate a record day for migrant crossings, with soaring temperatures making the journey more tempting, and potentially viable, for opportunists. From 5.30am through to 8.30am, our reporter at the scene said he was able to spot two migrant boats up close, with “at least five” in the distance.  FOLLOW OUR LIVE BLOG FOR UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY 15 mins ago 09:15 Victoria Chessum Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the migrant small boat crisis. We’re in Dover today, where already there have been several boats crossing into the Dover Strait – the busiest shipping lanes in the world.  It is anticipated today will surpass records as settled weather makes ideal crossing conditions for those risking their lives in dangerous dinghies.  Follow this blog for more information.