Dozens of armed riot cops seen arriving at Calais Jungle as the notorious migrant camp goes up in flames
Officers stood guard as authorities began to demolish the notorious slum
SCORES of riot police were seen entering the Calais Jungle camp this afternoon as raging fires resulted in an emergency evacuation.
Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité officers stood guard as authorities began to demolish the notorious slum - with smoke billowing relentlessly from burning tents and makeshift shacks inside the camp.
Forming a line, police pushed back against people after a giant inferno broke out, exacerbated by exploding gas canisters left inside migrants' makeshift homes.
The evacuation effort became so urgent, French police commander Patrick Visser-Bourdon stepped in to personally coordinate the operation.
However now, French authorities have said that the camp is now clear of migrants - with Calais' regional prefect Fabienne Buccio saying: "This is the end of the Jungle. Mission accomplished".
Earlier today, local French authorities suggested British extreme left-wing activists may have been behind the blazes - while four migrants have been arrested in connection with the fires, which have ripped through the camp since late last night.
Volunteer helper Tony Sterry, of High Wycombe, Bucks, also blamed anarchist group No Borders. He insisted: “This was not the work of refugees. White, No Borders activists started these fires.”
While resistance to leaving the camp was said to be low today, there are fears that migrants may relocate themselves to other makeshift camps along the coast, rather than going to the asylum centres set up by the French government.
Hamid, 30, from Afghanistan, admitted to Reuters he had been among those setting fire to shelters.
He said: "We don't care about problems that are to come after this. We did it because we don't want to stay in France.
"We want to go to England and England only. It doesn't matter if I go to jail here."
Last night Calais chiefs said they had sent 17 more child refugees to the UK, taking their number to 234.
They also admitted for the first time adults had tried to pass themselves off as kids.
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