French MPs urge UK to accept minors

French authorities yesterday stepped up work to finish demolition of an almost deserted Calais "Jungle" as more than 100 French MPs urged Britain to accept unaccompanied minors who had been living in the squalid migrant camp.

Shortly after 8:00 am (0600 GMT), three huge diggers moved into place on the northern perimeter of the camp, until Tuesday home to 6,000 to 8,000 migrants, to sweep away debris from makeshift dwellings.

Many tents and shacks were ravaged in huge fires which broke out Wednesday at the camp, a stark symbol of Europe's migrant crisis.

Britain has taken in 274 children from the Jungle since mid-October, mostly youngsters with relatives already living in the country.

Britain's Help Refugees charity estimated that as of late Friday there remained over 1,000 unaccompanied children living in the container camp.