JOANNA Cherry has said Boris Johnson's government must rethink its "hostile" approach to refugees after two young children were among four people confirmed to have perished in the Channel yesterday. 

The SNP MP spoke out after the deaths of a five-year-old and an eight-year-old child along with two adults after the packed small boat sank they were on sank as it tried to reach Britain.

Fifteen other people were taken to hospital after the tragedy off the coast of Northern France with the French authorities believe at least one more person could be lost at sea.

Save The Children has called for a "joint plan" from London and Paris to ensure the safety of vulnerable families, saying: "The English Channel must not become a graveyard for children."

Cherry, the SNP's shadow justice and home affairs secretary, said: "The terrible tragedy in the Channel must serve as a final wake-up call for the UK Government before more innocent lives are lost.

"The UK Government must rethink its hostile approach and urgently step up international cooperation to strengthen safe and legal routes to help vulnerable people fleeing hardship and conflict reach safety. 

"The harrowing and entirely avoidable deaths of two children and two adults yesterday must signal an immediate U-turn in the approach of the UK and French authorities. Rather than ramping up rhetoric to involve the military and to crack down on small boats, the UK government must heed the warnings from charities and organisations to help save lives."

Conditions in the English Channel had been rough throughout the day, with a gale warning issued overnight by the Met Office.

The boat was spotted about 2km off the French coast by a passing sailboat at about 9.30am local time yesterday, which alerted French authorities.

Four French vessels, one Belgian helicopter and a French fishing boat took part in the rescue and a search operation. But by the time rescue teams reached the struggling vessel, it had already sunk.

One man drowned, while a woman, along with two children - who French authorities said were aged five and eight - suffered cardiac arrests and never recovered.

Fifteen other people, who are believed to be from Iran, were taken to hospitals in Dunkirk and Calais.

Charity Care4Calais has said the tragedy should lead to the creation of a new system which would allow asylum seekers to apply for refuge in the UK from outside its borders and that this move would "put an end to terrifying, dangerous sea crossings and stop tragedy striking again".

Johnson said his thoughts were with the victims' loved ones as he called for a crack down on the boat crossings.

"We have offered the French authorities every support as they investigate this terrible incident, and will do all we can to crack down on the ruthless criminal gangs who prey on vulnerable people by facilitating these dangerous journeys," he said.