Britain's Royal Navy rescued more than 400 migrants in the Mediterranean, 40 miles off the coast of Libya today.

HMS Bulwark, an amphibious assault vessel, rescued the migrants from four inflatable boats, which each had over 100 people on board including pregnant women and children.

The operation started in the early hours of the  morning, with eight landing craft contributing to the search and rescue effort. The migrants are to be taken to Italy.