Four migrants die trying to cross the English Channel in a boat in 'heartbreaking' tragedy

Four people died early today after a boat carrying migrants got into trouble after attempting to launch from a beach south of Calais, according to reports emerging in France.

The incident - branded 'heartbreaking' by the Foreign Secretary - is said to have happened near Wimereux in northern France in the early hours of Sunday morning.

French paper La Voix du Nord said 72 people, including 10 children, were rescued and taken to Calais, while one person was reportedly taken to hospital in Boulogne. The paper said the migrants got into difficulty while trying to board the boat in darkness and cold temperatures.

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Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said the reported deaths of the four migrants in the Channel was “heartbreaking” - as further calls were made for 'decisive action' to end crossings.

Lod Cameron told BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “It’s heartbreaking when these things happen, and the loss of life that takes place. And you can only think about what an appalling end it would be, and the cold waters of the Channel in the middle of the night, it breaks my heart to hear about it.

"But it just shows we’ve got to stop the boats, we’ve got to stop this illegal trade in human beings.”

The Refugee Council, meanwhile, has called for “decisive action” to stop Channel crossings after the tragedy.

Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: “We are deeply saddened by the terrible loss of life in the Channel today. Our thoughts are with the victims and the friends and families directly affected by this tragedy.

“The sad reality is that this is not the first time we are waking up to such devastating news. With no