Police spray migrants with chemical irritant in Calais

French riot police sprayed migrants with a chemical irritant as they tried to storm the Channel Tunnel.

The migrants — who broke down several security fences late on Saturday night — were forced to retreat by riot police as they attempted to breach the final fence near the entrance of the 50km tunnel under the English Channel.

The migrants, estimated to number around 200, faced off for close to an hour with security forces, chanting slogans including: “Open the border” and “We are not animals.”