More than 150 migrants rescued after boat catches fire in Channel - BBC News

The boat was attempting to cross to the UK when its engine caught fire, according to French authorities.

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption, The migrants disembarked at the Port de Commerce in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, following the rescue

More than 150 migrants have been rescued after the boat they were using to cross the Channel caught fire on Tuesday morning, French authorities have said.

The boat was attempting to cross to the UK when its engine caught fire, according to the French maritime prefecture of the Channel and North Sea.

It said 157 people have been rescued and were taken to port in Boulogne-sur-Mer. There are no reports of anyone having been injured or killed.

It comes just a day after Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged his government will be "relentless" in curbing the number of people arriving in the UK on small boats.