More than 180 people rescued from Channel in deadly weekend

Officials say at least four rescue operations carried out off French coast as five die trying to cross ice-cold sea

More than 180 people were rescued and five died over the weekend while trying to cross the Channel to the UK in ice-cold waters and sub-zero air temperatures, the French authorities have said.

The maritime prefecture said it had been on alert since Friday and at least four rescue operations had been carried out, with five people dying in the early hours of Sunday off the coast of Wimereux, in Pas-de-Calais.