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Fury has erupted after an activist coached illegal migrants to "call 999" from the Channel while making a film backed with French taxpayer cash. Thomas Grandrémy also told asylum seekers that "UK rescue will come" if they launched themselves in dangerous dinghies towards Dover.

It comes as the total number of illegal migrants coming to the UK since the crisis began in 2018 smashed through the 200,000 mark. And fears are mounting that Belgium could become a major launching spot for migrants following a surge in crossings.

Director Mr Grandrémy's movie, Tomorrow UK Inch'Allah, premiered in Calais on Thursday night.

In a behind-the-scenes clip, he is seen talking to a would-be boat migrant.

He asks: "You know how it works? When you are in the middle of the sea, you call 999. Then the UK rescue will come."

The documentary was produced "in participation with" the French taxpayer-funded TV channel France 3, according to The Sun on Sunday.

It was also supported by France's publicly owned CNC film agency, which awards creative grants of up to €100,000 (£86,500) through its Aide à la Production scheme.

It raises the possibility that significant sums of French public cash could have been handed to Mr Grandrémy to make the film, only weeks after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood gave France £662million of UK taxpayer money.

British taxpayer funds are supposed to be ringfenced for use on the border, but critics said funding for Tomorrow UK Inch'Allah shows French authorities were not serious about halting the boats. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "It is disgraceful that this French film director is encouraging illegal immigration."

The Home Office said: "The Home Secretary has signed a landmark deal with France to boost enforcement action.

"This builds on joint work that has stopped over 42,000 illegal migrants attempting to cross the Channel since the election."

It is understood that calling 999 from the Channel would not help migrants, as the Border Force already knows their location.