Over 150 migrants including 10 children and a pregnant woman were rescued off the coast of northern France, local maritime authorities said on Thursday.

The 159 migrants aboard eight boats, some suffering from hypothermia, were returned to Dunkirk and Boulogne, they said.

Since late 2018, the number of illegal Channel crossings has risen sharply as migrants try to reach Britain despite dangers linked to busy shipping traffic, strong currents and low water temperatures.

In 2020 alone, there were some 9,500 crossings or attempted crossings, according to the coastguard, more than four times the previous year's number.

Six people died and three went missing trying to cross last year, compared to four dead in 2019.

cab/cbn/har