The Home Secretary took a trip onboard a Chinook helicopter as she travelled 19 miles between Dover and Manston this afternoon.

The high-grade military helicopter, which can reach speeds of 187mph, was spotted in the skies above east Kent.

Suella Braverman visited the immigration facilities at both Dover and Manston amid claims the centres are "like a prison" for asylum seekers.

Rather than take the 30-minute or so drive between the two locations, Downing Street opted to deploy a Chinook.

No.10 has defended its decision to use the helicopter - which experts for the UK Defence Journal say costs about £3,500 per hour to fly.

A spokeswoman said: “The Home Secretary was in Dover to receive an update on operations on the ground.

“That obviously involved operations in the Channel.

“She travelled on a military aircraft to see the area of operations at sea.”

The Home Office says Ms Braverman witnessed the "momentous efforts underway to ease pressures" at Manston during her visit.

The Home Secretary's first stop was the Western Jet Foil immigration centre - the scene of a petrol bomb attack on Sunday.

Witnesses say the home secretary spent about half an hour at the facility – where migrants are first taken after arriving on the south coast – during which time she was shown around by Border Force staff.

Her trip to the county comes amid criticism of her claim the UK faces an “invasion” on its south coast and mounting political pressure over poor conditions at immigration facilities.

Speaking after her visit, she said: “I have met with our expert teams who work tirelessly to save lives and protect the UK’s borders.

"I wanted to see first-hand how we're working to reduce the number of people in Manston, support people there, and thank staff for all their efforts.

“I am incredibly proud of the skill and dedication shown to tackle this challenging situation here on a daily basis.

“This is a complex and difficult situation, which we need to tackle on all fronts and look at innovative solutions. To break the business model of the people smugglers, we need to ensure that the illegal migration route across the Channel is ultimately rendered unviable.”

The Home Office says more than 1,000 people have been moved on from Manston over the last five days.

It also says 24/7 medical facilities have been put in place, along with extra bedding and improved catering facilities.

Earlier today, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt insisted Ms Braverman is prepared to “face the music” over the crisis.

“The Home Secretary did a number of public appearances this week in Parliament,” he said during a visit to a theatre in Carshalton, south London.

“She’s been prepared to face the music this week and I’m sure you’ll continue to have a chance to ask her questions.”

An estimated 3,500 people are being detained for weeks at the Manston facility, which was designed to accommodate 1,600 for no more than a few days.