Home Secretary James Cleverly has agreed an expansion into several new countries  attempting to deter illegal migration in Albania, France and Belgium for the last three years.

The mass advertising campaigns will take place in Albania, Iraq, Egypt and Vietnam, with plans to also introduce them in Turkey and India, according to draft documents seen by The Times.

A shortlist of influencers drawn up in Albania reportedly includes a rapper, two comedians, lifestyle bloggers, TV personalities and a travel writer, who were chosen for their ability to appeal to young men.

The paper said the Home Office had a budget of about £30,000 to pay the Albanian influencers - which would be capped at £5,000 per person.

A £15,000 budget had been set to pay influencers in Egypt and Vietnam, The Times said, adding that the budget for Turkish, Iraqi and Indian influencers has yet to be decided but a total of £576,500 had been signed off for the five countries.

Nearly 116,000 people have entered the UK by making the dangerous journey across the Channel on small boats since 2018, according to Home Office data.

More than 1,600 migrants have made the crossing so far this year, with leaked Border Force documents suggesting the number could rise to around 35,000 in 2024.

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