The UK’s Home Office has spent more than £23,000 on social media advertisements targeting potential migrants in France, a freedom of information request has revealed.

The adverts, which told people not to cross the Channel, ran on Facebook and Instagram between December 2020 and April 2021.

However, since the five-month campaign ended, more than 7,000 people have gone on to cross to the UK in small boats, according to data compiled by the Press...