The founder of Wiltshire for Refugees has called for action after four people, including two children, died after their boat sank off the coast of northern France.

The small fishing boat, which was carrying a group of refugees, capsized in the Channel at about 9.30am yesterday (October 27). 

Two children - aged five and eight - and a man and a woman, believed to be from Iran, have died.

Fifteen others have been taken to hospital.

Shelley Rawlins, Wiltshire For Refugees co-founder, said:  “This news is desperately sad, charities and community groups like ours have been warning the government about a tragedy like this for a long time. Wiltshire Faith leaders were amongst 250 Faith Leaders who wrote to Boris Johnson in June asking him asking him to commit to offering child refugees a safe route to asylum in the UK. These young lives could have been saved by providing safe and legal routes to refuge."

The government last week rejected the Dubs amendment to the Immigration Bill (Lords Amendment 4).

The amendment aims to ensure one of the few remaining safe and legal routes for children to travel to the UK to seek asylum remains open, and that family reunion will be enshrined after Brexit.

It will return to the House of Commons next week.

Mrs Rawlins added: "The situation risks becoming worse as the government continues to take away safe and legal routes to sanctuary. We are currently fighting to save 'family reunion'- the last remaining route to claim asylum in the UK from Europe, which will end in December unless the government supports Lords Amendment 4 next week.

She added: "The people of Wiltshire have demonstrated time and time again that they care about child refugees- the responses to our appeals have always been  incredible.

"Now it’s time for the government to show they care too."

Wiltshire For Refugees have been promised a meeting with the Immigration Minister to discuss their concerns, although his office has yet to confirm the date of the meeting.

Beth Gardiner-Smith, Safe Passage CEO, added: “Nobody should have to risk their life to reach safety and today’s tragic news is the direct consequence of a lack of safe alternatives for those seeking sanctuary.  

"Just this year, the Government closed the Dubs route designed to give children safe passage into the UK. And now the only legal route left available to children - family reunion - will end in less than 10 weeks' time unless the government acts now. 

"Rather than speculating about ever more inhumane ways to push back and prevent refugees seeking from asylum, the Government should act now to protect family reunion and expand safe and legal routes for refugees.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "I am truly saddened to learn of the tragic loss of life in French waters this morning.

“My thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones at this time.

“We are in touch with our French counterparts who are leading on the response and have offered whatever support they need as they investigate this incident.

“This tragic news highlights the dangers that come with crossing the channel and I will do everything I can to stop callous criminals exploiting vulnerable people."

Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his thoughts were with the victims' loved ones.

He said: "We have offered the French authorities every support as they investigate this terrible incident, and will do all we can to crack down on the ruthless criminal gangs who prey on vulnerable people by facilitating these dangerous journeys."