Almost 1,000 migrants crossed the Channel on the same day a two-year-old boy was “trampled to death” in a boat.

The Home Office said 973 asylum seekers were detected in 17 dinghies on Saturday – the highest daily total since November 2022.

Sir Keir Starmer was on Sunday warned “our country’s security is at stake”

But the death toll continued to rise over the weekend, as four people were killed attempting to reach Britain.

French interior minister Bruno Retailleau said the two-year-old was “trampled to death” inside a boat carrying up to 90 people.

And he accused people smugglers of having “blood” on their hands.

The vessel suffered from an engine failure, it is understood.

Fifteen people were transferred to a tow vessel, including the boy, who was unconscious.

A medical team was sent by helicopter, but he was pronounced dead.

Mr Retailleau said: “Today, several people have died trying to cross the Channel.

“A child was trampled to death in a boat. A terrible tragedy that should make us all aware of the tragedy that is being played out.

“The smugglers have the blood of these people on their hands and our government will intensify the fight against these mafias who enrich themselves by organizing these crossings of death.”

A second boat also suffered from an engine failure, with 83 people on board.

Three passengers were found unconscious at the bottom of the vessel. They were “probably crushed and suffocated”, according to Mr Billant.

He added: “Despite the intervention of the doctors, they were declared dead. They are two men and a woman, all three around 30 years old.

“Two new tragedies occurred at sea this morning. The toll is very heavy, since we deeply regret the death of four people: two men, a woman and a child.”

Mr Billant added that 51 people have died attempting the crossing so far this year.

Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick said: “This is the highest number crossing the Channel in a single day for years.

“Starmer needs to rip up his dangerous so-called ‘plan’ on small boats. Our country’s security is at stake.

“He wants to lock up the criminals and terror suspects after they’ve got here – we should be stopping them in the first place.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper replied to Mr Retailleau on the social media site X, saying it was “appalling” that more lives had been lost in the channel, “including a young child”.

“Criminal smuggler gangs” do not care “if people live or die”, she added.

Ms Cooper said she had been in touch with Mr Retailleau and wants to “increase cooperation and law enforcement”.