The Home Office offered its thoughts and sympathies to the dead mens families as Ms Patel said: I have a duty to protect our borders and prevent the loss of life.

Thats why I am absolutely committed to doing everything in my power to stop these dangerous Channel crossings which are putting vulnerable lives at risk.

The plan we have agreed builds on the extensive joint work we are already doing with our French neighbours, and I am confident that it will lead to a considerable reduction in this illegal activity.

It is the first time that two migrants have been found dead on the same day on northern French shores. Two separate deaths were recorded in August.

The two men "probably came from the same boat", which was found empty next to the body of the younger man, said the French regional security department.

Police found two oars inside the inflatable dinghy, and a canister of fuel and life vest nearby, security officials for the Pas-de-Calais region told the French station News 24.

A similar boat was found some 450 metres from the scene but it was not clear if the two were linked.

Over the past year, growing numbers of migrants from Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia have attempted to cross the Channel in small fishing boats or inflatable dinghies.

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French police to double beach patrols after discovering two dead Iraqi migrants suspected of attempting to get to Britain - The Telegraph