More than 150 migrants rescued after Channel boat catches fire

More than 150 migrants have been rescued after the boat they were travelling in caught fire while attempting to cross the English Channel on Tuesday morning, French authorities have said.
According to the French maritime prefecture for the Channel and North Sea, the vessel's engine caught fire during the crossing, prompting a large-scale rescue operation involving teams from both France and the United Kingdom.
A total of 157 people were rescued and are being transported to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Authorities confirmed that no injuries or fatalities have been reported.
French officials said the boat departed the French coast on Monday night. Rescue efforts were carried out by several vessels, including the RNLI Eastbourne lifeboat and UK Border Force ships BSC Contender and BSC Courageous.
The incident comes a day after Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged that his government would be "relentless" in tackling the increasing number of migrants attempting to reach the UK by crossing the Channel in small boats.