AFP, Paris

Britain and France have agreed a new three-year deal to stop undocumented migrants making the risky journey across the Channel in small boats, the two sides announced.

Under the deal, France pledged to increase law enforcement on the coast by more than half to fight irregular migration to Britain -- reaching 1,400 officers by 2029.

Britain will meanwhile provide up to 766 million euros in funding -- though nearly a quarter of that will be conditional.

The cross-Channel neighbours have wrangled for months over renewing the Sandhurst treaty, which sets out the UK’s financial contribution to French efforts to stop migrants attempting the perilous sea crossing to Britain. The UK has accused France of doing too little to prevent would-be asylum seekers from setting off from French shores.