The country's interior minister Bruno Retailleau said the child was "trampled to death" on a boat.

"Several people died trying to cross the Channel. A child was trampled to death in a boat," he said in a post on the X social media platform.

"A terrible tragedy that must make us all aware of the tragedy that is unfolding.

"The people smugglers have the blood of these people on their hands and our government will intensify the fight against these mafias who are getting rich by organising these crossings of death."

Local French newspaper La Voix Du Nord also reported three people had died off the coast of Calais, as well as one near Boulogne. They also said rescue operations are ongoing.

It marks the latest fatal crossing attempt in the Channel and comes just over a month after 12 people died when their boat sank in September.

Ten women and girls were onboard a small board when "the bottom of the boat ripped open," the mayor of Le Portel Olivier Barbarin said at the time.

The French coastguard added more than 65 people had been rescued after a vessel got into difficulties.

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Meanwhile, a total of 395 migrants arrived in the UK on seven boats having crossed the English Channel on Friday, according to UK authorities.

Some of those arriving were pictured wearing life jackets as they were brought to shore at Dover on a Border Force vessel.

Friday's figures mean the UK has seen 25,639 migrant arrivals so far this year. By 4 October last year, 25,330 migrants had arrived.