Dozens of migrants have been found off the coast attempting to cross the Channel in inflatable boats, KentOnline understands.

Border Force officials were called to four incidents in less than three hours as 39 Iranian nationals attempted to travel towards the UK.

They were first alerted to a boat carrying nine people at about 4.40am.

An hour and 20 minutes later, Border Force officers intercepted a second vessel carrying five more.

A third boat with 11 Iranians on board was found about 7am.

And just 30 minutes afterwards, 14 more migrants were found.

All of them identified themselves as Iranian and were taken to Dover to be medically assessed before being interviewed by immigration officials.

A police spokesman confirmed officers were called to the fourth incident just before 7.30am.

They attended Dungeness lifeboat station after the vessel was brought to shore.

An eyewitness told KentOnline this morning that a "massive" search was conducted off Dungeness and that several migrants had been found.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency also said its officers had been called to "a number of incidents" off the coast.

She added: "Search and rescue helicopters from Lydd and Lee-on-Solent, RNLI lifeboats from Dover, Dungeness and Hastings, and Border Force vessels Seeker and Speedwell have all been sent.

"We are only concerned with preservation of life, rescuing those in trouble and bringing them safely back to shore, where they will be handed over to the relevant partner emergency services or authorities."

This comes three days after 17 migrants were found off the coast and brought to Dover for interviews.

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