At least six people have died and more than 50 were rescued after a migrant boat trying to cross the Channel from France capsized.

The incident happened off the north-eastern coast of France early in the morning.

After a period of rough seas, more settled weather has prompted a rise in departures as small boats seek to cross the narrow stretch of water between the UK and continental Europe.

Local mayor Franck Dhersin said a vast rescue operation was launched as dozens of migrant boats tried to make the journey at the same time.

"Several of the boats were facing serious difficulties," he told Reuters. "Near (the coastal town of) Sangatte they unfortunately found dead bodies."

The maritime prefecture confirmed that there had been at least six deaths and said search and rescue operations were ongoing.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said junior Maritime Affairs Minister Herve Berville would head to Calais, near where one of the migrant boats capsized. "My thoughts are with the victims," she posted on messaging platform X.

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Britain's coastguard said it sent a lifeboat from Dover to assist with the rescue, along with a coastguard rescue team and ambulance staff.

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has made stopping the crossings one of his five principle pledges for this year. Official figures show that the number of migrant Channel crossings since the start of 2018 exceeded 100,000 this week. The number so far this year stands at nearly 16,000.

British interior minister Suella Braverman said her "thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragic loss of life" and that her officials had been working with French authorities.

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