An Iranian asylum seeker has been spotted in an inflatable kayak just eight miles off the UK coast.

The former "Jungle" resident is thought to have been spotted by a cross-channel ferry late last week.

A UK border force vessel picked up the man, who is understood to have immediately claimed asylum.

It is believed to have been the first attempt to make the treacherous 20-mile crossing alone in a kayak.

He is thought to have been living in the Calais camp until it was demolished last week.

Believed to be about 30, he was said to have been a software engineer before leaving Iran.

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said: “This is yet another sign of the extreme lengths people will go to try to break into Britain.

“Crossing the English Channel in November, alone on a kayak, is about as dangerous as it gets.

“It is encouraging to hear UK Border Force intercepted the man – but it was only after he was spotted by people on a ferry.

“It’s clear that as the Jungle camp in Calais is completely cleared, we need to be more vigilant than ever.

“This incident shows why need a New Dover Patrol to scan our seas for people smugglers, protect our borders and to strengthen our intelligence effort with France.”