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Britain is preparing to send officials to the Red Cross centre at Sangatte, Calais, to help to reduce the number of asylum-seekers leaving it to get into Britain.

The officials will work with the International Organisation for Migration, supported by French services, to provide realistic information. The aim is to deter economic migrants from trying to enter Britain.

The decision follows a meeting last week between home office minister David Blunkett and French interior minister Daniel Vaillant. Both sides agreed that action was necessary to stop the flow of people into Sangatte. A joint statement said: "We have agreed to work together to bring forward a new package of measures to deter people trafficking."