Six migrant boats have left France in the first attempt to cross the English Channel and reach the UK in days.
A group including children was seen boarding at a beach in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk.
French authorities were then pictured escorting a small boat.
There have not been any arrivals of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats for a week, the latest Home Office figures show.
But 2025 is on course to set a record for Channel crossings, with more than 13,000 people having arrived so far, up 30% on the number recorded at this point last year, according to analysis of the data by the PA news agency.
French authorities escort people thought to be migrants on board a small boat leaving the beach at Gravelines (Gareth Fuller/PA)
Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to crack down on small boat crossings including with measures targeting smuggling gangs.
The Home Secretary has previously said gangs have been taking advantage of a higher number of calm weather days to make crossings.
Sunny weather is forecast on Saturday with some areas potentially hitting 27C.