A rescue operation took place this morning after an “incident” which involved a small boat carrying asylum seekers.

It happened on the Goodwin Sands, off the Deal coast, at around 7:45am.

The HM Coastguard was alerted and Walmer and Ramsgate lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter from Lydd were tasked.

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: “Everyone was rescued safely and disembarked to the relevant partner emergency services or authorities.”

It comes four days after at least five people died attempting to cross the Channel in a tragic incident.

A child, a woman, and three men are understood to have died during the crossing.