Moves to stop Cherbourg stowaways

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Cross-channel border patrols have been strengthened to prevent illegal immigrants coming to Britain from France, says the Home Office.

Officials said more than 1,300 stowaways were prevented from leaving the French port of Cherbourg in July.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said he was determined it would not become a "threat to British border security".

The UK and French governments say they do not want refugees gathering at the port as happened in Sangatte in 2002.

The latest figures have prompted the French parliament to discuss new measures to make the port boundaries more secure.

And in Britain, Mr Byrne said the government was keeping a close eye on the situation at Cherbourg.

"We are determined to make sure it doesn't grow and it doesn't pose a threat to Britain's border security and that's a message we have sent very clearly to the French," he said.

Sangatte 2

He added that border control teams would be heading to France next week to discuss the issue.

"The French immigration politicians have been clear with us that they don't want a return to Sangatte either and we will make sure they deliver on that commitment," he said.

Although asylum applications are down from 10,000 a month in 2002, to less than 2,000, illegal immigration is still a politically sensitive issue.

Those paying to be smuggled into Britain have set up a makeshift camp near Cherbourg and the problems at the French port have led to it being dubbed Sangatte 2.

The original Sangatte camp, which housed refugees, was located about 1.2 miles from Eurotunnel's terminal near Calais and 3.1 miles from Calais port.

UK concerns that the camp was being used as a base for illegal immigration led to its closure in December 2002 following an agreement between the British and French governments.

Officials at Cherbourg told the BBC's Clive Myrie there were around 160 attempts to break into the port each night.

Port director Serge Henry said: "We hope we will not become another Calais or Sangatte. We could be in danger of having up to 500 migrants a night trying to cross the channel if we don't clamp down now."