Calls are growing for France to refund money paid by the UK to tackle small boat crossings after a record 752 migrants reached Britain in a single day.

The latest arrivals came as four migrants died in separate attempts to cross the English Channel on Wednesday, prompting fresh criticism of efforts to stop the dangerous journeys.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has signed a £662million agreement with France running until 2029 to help tackle illegal crossings, with around £160million due to be paid only if crossings fall. The wider package will fund drones, helicopters and almost 1,100 police, intelligence and military officers along France's northern coastline.

But the latest crossings have prompted politicians to question whether British taxpayers are getting value for money.

Reform UK's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said: "The French authorities are waving individuals on to the boats. Enough is enough.

"We should not be sending any more money to France. We have already said that we wouldn't just end this arrangement, we'd seek a rebate from the French because we're clearly being taken for fools."

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Three women died after suffering suspected heart attacks on an overcrowded dinghy that left Dunkirk early on Wednesday. French rescue crews recovered their bodies before the boat continued across the Channel, where the remaining passengers were later picked up by a Border Force vessel.

Earlier the same day, another migrant, believed to be in his 30s, died after more than 100 people attempted to board an inflatable boat off Neufchâtel-Hardelot, south of Boulogne. Six others were seriously injured, including a one-year-old child who rescuers said had "almost drowned".

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp also criticised the French response.

He said: "The Belgians successfully and safely intervene to stop crossings in exactly the same circumstances. The French should too."

A Home Office spokesman defended the agreement with France, saying the new payments-by-results deal would strengthen enforcement on beaches and help bring people-smuggling gangs to justice.

He added: "It builds on joint work that's stopped over 46,000 attempted crossings since the election."