It's one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and it's not a sensible thing to attempt to do

Gail Isted, P&O Stena Line

The coastguard spokesman said they were checked by the ferry doctor but were only suffering from mild hypothermia.

He said: "The ferry launched its crash boat and recovered two possible illegal immigrants on a small inflatable.

"Dover lifeboat has recovered the semi-inflated dinghy. It was a kiddies' dinghy, yellow and blue, the sort you'd use on a lake."

People's 'desperation'

Gail Isted, a spokeswoman for P&O Stena Line, said: "It's one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and it's not a sensible thing to attempt to do.

"This sort of thing shows the desperation of these people.

"It wasn't long since the last incident where we had to pick two up off of air beds.

"Today's sailing would have been delayed by about half-an-hour, but the safety of these people is of paramount importance."

The two young men are now in the custody of French Police.