Britain rejects 'Jungle' camp migrants

French police are expected to move within days to close the camp, known as "The Jungle", where around 1,500 mainly Afghans live.

A senior UN official said the UK should take in those with relatives already living in Britain, but a spokesman for the Border Agency said genuine asylum seekers should make their claim in the country where they enter Europe.

He said: "People seeking asylum should do so in the first safe country they come to, those who are not in need of protection will be expected to return home. The decision to close illegal encampments in and around Calais is a matter for the French Government and we will continue to cooperate with them on tackling illegal immigration."

The statement followed calls from UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, for Britain to accept some migrants when the camp is closed.

He said: "There will be situations in which we would recommend also the British authorities to consider the possibility to receive, for instance, people that have large families in Britain and things of this sort. What I believe is important is that everybody that is in need of protection should be granted protection."

Under EU rules, asylum seekers are required to make their claim in the country where they enter Europe.

Most of the Afghans living in Calais travel through the Middle East to Greece before crossing the continent.

Earlier this week, French Immigration Minister Eric Besson said closing the camp would send a strong message to people traffickers.

Every night dozens of Afghans attempt to get to Britain hidden in the back of lorries bound for Dover. Last year 28,000 were caught by border officials at the Channel Ports.