Calais Boarding Trucks

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is attempting a political comeback before next year's election, said on Saturday that Britain should open an asylum centre on its territory to deal with asylum seekers now camped in Calais.

Nearly 7,000 migrants are now living in the camp known as the "Jungle" in the French port of Calais, marking a sharp increase in recent months, local authorities said today.

Britain will increase screening of arrivals at Dover and create a task force to tackle people smugglers, officials said today, as growing numbers of migrants step up efforts to cross the Channel.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is attempting a political comeback before next year's election, said on Saturday that Britain should open an asylum centre on its territory to deal with asylum seekers now camped in Calais.

Nearly 7,000 migrants are now living in the camp known as the "Jungle" in the French port of Calais, marking a sharp increase in recent months, local authorities said today.

Britain will increase screening of arrivals at Dover and create a task force to tackle people smugglers, officials said today, as growing numbers of migrants step up efforts to cross the Channel.