BIRMINGHAM, England

Around 80 migrants, including at least three children, were rescued Thursday after a boat got into difficulty while crossing the English Channel from France, said local reports and official statements.

The UK Border Force reportedly acted in the morning after hearing reports that dozens of people were in the water about 10 miles off the coast of Kent.

As UK lifeboats are continuing to search the area, no fatalities have been reported by the authorities.

Home Office figures in May showed that more than 7,500 migrants arrived in the UK by small boat in the first four months of the year.

The issue of tackling the number of migrant boat crossings is one of the key promises of the ruling Conservatives ahead of the general elections on July 4, including a controversial plan to send asylum seekers to the small African country of Rwanda.

Despite the promises, polls show the Labour Party as heavily favored to win.