Empty migrant boat recovered from the sea in Shoreham

The large vessel was found and recovered by Shoreham RNLI on Sunday night, with the assistance of the Shoreham Coastguard.

The incident reportedly has been dealt with by UK Border Force.

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Empty migrant boat found in sea off Shoreham

Photographs taken at the scene on Shoreham beach show a large, black vessel on the shore.

A number of workers can also be seen transporting items from the boat.

The incident comes less than a month after a group of fishermen reportedly blocked a Sussex lifeboat from going to the aid of migrants - telling them "don't bring any more of those home".

Empty migrant boat found in sea off Shoreham

RNLI lifeboat volunteers were reportedly confronted by fishermen on Hastings beach, who told them “we’re full up” and "don't bring any more of those home".

It is claimed the group also stopped volunteers from helping a migrant boat, saying "that's why we stopped our donations".

The police were called but no arrests were made.

A woman identified only as Zoe, from Hastings, called into an LBC radio show to reveal what had happened.

“It was really upsetting, and you could hear the hatred in their voice,” she said.

Zoe said the group of fishermen were gutting fish on the shore when the abuse started.

"The lifeboat crew pulled the boat out and were going to go into the water and some of the fishermen deliberately came out with their buckets and stood directly in the line of the boat so the boat couldn't be put in the water,” she added.

"It really shook me to the core.”

Empty migrant boat found in sea off Shoreham

A Hastings RNLI spokesman said the incident on November 20 was reported to the police and the lifeboat was eventually able to launch.

In a statement, Sussex Police said they were made aware of reports of a disturbance near to the Hastings RNLI Lifeboat Station.

"A police officer attended the scene while also being supported by colleagues monitoring the situation on CCTV.

"No arrests were made."

However, one of the fisherman on the beach at the time says the incident has been "blown out of proportion".

Empty migrant boat found in sea off Shoreham

An estimated 25,600 migrants have reached the UK by boat across the English Channel so far in 2021.

Last year’s total was 8,417, according to the Home Office.

On November 11, a total of 1,185 migrants crossed the Channel – a new record for a single day.

RNLI lifeboats were launched to help rescue dozens of people, believed to be migrants, who arrived on Hastings beach earlier this month.

Despite the efforts of lifeboat crews, Border Force and French authorities, three people are feared lost at sea after two kayaks were found adrift off the coast of Calais.