A refugee charity has claimed it helped cease quite a few migrants boarding the Bibby Stockholm barge right this moment.

Care4Calais stated a number of migrants weren't moved to the vessel moored in Portland Port, Dorset, as their transfers have been "cancelled" by legal professionals.

It comes as the primary group of migrants arrived on board the enormous barge this morning.

Chief government Steve Smith stated: "None of the asylum seekers we are supporting have gone to the Bibby Stockholm today as legal representatives have had their transfers cancelled.

"Amongst our purchasers are people who find themselves disabled, who've survived torture and fashionable slavery and who've had traumatic experiences at sea.

"To house any human being in a 'quasi floating prison' like the Bibby Stockholm is inhumane.

"To try to accomplish that with this group of individuals is unbelievably merciless. Even simply receiving the notices is inflicting them a substantial amount of nervousness.

"Human beings should be housed in communities, not barges.

"The Government may simply get on with processing individuals's asylum claims, as an alternative they're enjoying to a gallery that appears to thrive on human struggling. We will proceed supporting individuals to problem their determination."

Meanwhile, the BBC reported that eight asylum seekers from the Chine Hotel in Bournemouth refused get on the coach to the Bibby Stockholm, with only one going.

The three-storey barge - which has 222 bedrooms, a gym, TV rooms, a 24-hour canteen and free taxi service - is due to eventually accommodate up to 500 males.

Plans to house migrants on the vessel have been repeatedly delayed amid safety concerns and local opposition.

Home Office Minister Sarah Dines earlier said the first asylum seekers were expected "imminently".

She advised BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We're anticipating fairly quickly, imminently this week, within the coming days that individuals will probably be on the Bibby Stockholm.

"For operational reasons, you wouldn't expect me to confirm the hour or the day but it is pretty soon."

Ms Dines additionally stated it was hoped there may very well be 500 migrants on board by the top of the week.

But No 10 appeared to counsel she had misspoken along with her feedback in regards to the vessel reaching full capability inside days.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman stated: "My understanding, and I think the Home Office have sought to clarify, that is about the upward capacity of the Bibby Stockholm rather than the numbers we are looking to get in by the end of the week.

"Numbers will improve over time as you'll anticipate for any new asylum facility."

He said no "restrict" had been set on how many asylum seekers the Home Office was looking to house on the barge this week.

Asked whether the minister misspoke, the spokesman replied: "All I might say is that my understanding is that the Bibby Stockholm has an upward capability of 500.

"We are looking to (reach) that number over time - I don't think we are aiming to do it by the weekend."

The Home Office later clarified the full can be reached over an extended time frame and never by the top of the week.