Three men were also picked up in a dinghy on 3 July

It is the second such incident this month, with three men picked up in very similar circumstances on 3 July.

The suspected refugees, all thought to be in their 20s, were spotted in the middle of the Channel heading for the Kent coast at about 1015 BST on Sunday, Dover Lifeboat said.

When found, they were paddling an eight-foot rubber dinghy described as a "kiddie's plaything" by lifeboat crew.

It is just a worry that one day it is going to be dead bodies we bring back Coxswain Dave Pascall

The men, who were reported to be cold, sick and shaking when found, appeared not to speak any English.

A Home Office spokeswoman for the Home Office confirmed the three men, who claimed to be from Moldova, were being interviewed by immigration officers at Dover.

Lifeboat coxswain Dave Pascall said: "A passing yacht had just recovered three men in a small dinghy a couple of minutes before we arrived on the scene.

"They were obviously illegal immigrants trying to get into the country.

'Trend building up'

"We then transferred them back from the small yacht on to our boat and returned to Dover, where they were apprehended by immigration and the police."

He said he was concerned the trend appeared to be building up.

"I don't know how to stop this but the government has to sort it out. Something has to be done.

"It is just a worry that one day it is going to be dead bodies we bring back."

Unidentified bodies

He said a small dinghy such as the one the men used could get into trouble in choppy water very easily.

"They were in the water or in the boat for some considerable time, I would guess probably overnight," he said.

"They were very cold, all shaking, a couple of them were being sick - it doesn't take long in these conditions for them to become ill or get hypothermia."

In the past two weeks alone, his crew had picked up two unidentified bodies in the Channel, he said.