Some 850 illegal immigrants have been intercepted in the seas near Sicily in the space of just 24 hours. On Tuesday, some 500 people were discovered and last night a further 300 were picked up by coastguards around southern Italy.

Many either landed at or were taken to the tiny island of Lampedusa. Each summer the number of illegal immigrants heading from north Africa - particularly Libya - to southern Italy increases, as thousands attempt the dangerous crossing, usually in small, ill-equipped boats.

Italy has been criticised by the European Union for returning hundreds of the arrivals to Libya just hours after they have been picked up, without going through the proper checks.

A further 45 from this latest group have already been sent back to north Africa

PHOTO CAPTION

Illegal immigrants gesture to photographers in the port of Lampedusa island, south of Sicily, in this March 8, 2002 file photo.