AT least one person has died after an overcrowded boat carrying more than 60 migrants ran into trouble in the Channel.
The vessel was around 8km from the French coast when it started to deflate and sink at around midnight.
One person has been confirmed dead and another is in a critical condition.
Survivors have been rushed to hospital in Calais, the French Coastguard said.
Authorities say 66 people were on board the stricken boat.
Search efforts are continuing by air and sea.
It comes after The Sun reported how gangs are offering illegal migrants festive discounts on Channel crossings.
Ads for people smugglers’ cut-price deals have appeared on social media.
One Albanian advert on TikTok boasts of a “100 per cent success rate” for entry into the UK.
Another account advertised journeys that normally cost £8,000 per person for £5,000 over Christmas.
Meanwhile on Instagram, a page offered a space on a lorry at a “sale price” for a December 20 trip.
Another post read: “One person, £6,000. Two people, £5,000 each.”
One ad even offers to smuggle people in by plane for £14,000 per person.
MPs warned gangs will use the Tory civil war over immigration as part of their marketing campaigns.
Earlier this month, Rishi Sunak faced the first parliamentary hurdle for his emergency Bill to rescue the ailing Rwanda scheme.
It was dealt a blow as the Minister in charge of it, Robert Jenrick, resigned and said it will not work.