Four migrants have died attempting to cross the Channel - just over a day after Andy Burnham claimed Labour's plan to stop small boats 'is working'.Three women and a man lost their lives in separate incidents on the French side of the Channel overnight.The tragedies unfolded shortly after Wednesday witnessed what was thought to have been the largest number of small boat crossings this year.Unofficial estimates reported by GB News put the total at 730, beating the 710 seen on June 15. A small boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday causing the death of a passenger and leading to the ‘near drowning’ of a baby.The disaster unfolded in the early hours of Thursday morning in the sea off Neufchâtel-Hardelot, south of Boulogne.Local mayor Paulette Juilien-Peuvion described how more than 100 people, including women and children, were attempting to board a flimsy inflatable designed for around 15 passengers.‘One man died and six were seriously hurt,’ she said during a visit to the scene later in the day. Migrants board a smugglers' boat in an attempt to cross the Channel off the beach of Gravelines, northern France, on Wednesday Migrants clamber aboard another packed dinghy at separate beach - Hardelot, south of Boulogne - also on WednesdayThe deceased man was from Africa and in his 30s, according to rescuers.Six others were severely hurt, including a one-year-old baby who ‘almost drowned’ said an emergency services source.He added: ‘The small boat arrived on an isolated beach just before midnight, and that’s when dozens of people tried to get on board. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp witnessed migrant departures from Hardelot beach in France during Wednesday‘The scenes were extremely chaotic because people smugglers were charging as many people as they could to board.'The fatality happened at around 1.30am, and an investigation is underway to try to find out what caused it.'Gendarmes managed to seize the vessel, as Boulogne prosecutors opened a criminal enquiry.No identities were immediately released for any of those involved, nor their ages and countries of origin.In a separate incident off Dunkirk three women were brought ashore after emergency services mounted a rescue.Attempts to resuscitate the women - said to be aged around 20, 30 and 50 - failed and all three were declared dead.Prime Minister Mr Burnham claimed on Tuesday that the Government's plan to stop small boats 'is working'. Migrants sprint to the water's edge at Gravelines beach in France to board a traffickers' dinghy to Britain on WednesdayBut on Wedesday Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp was told by one French officer that they had orders not to intervene, as the Tory MP spent the day monitoring departures from a beach in the north of the country.Gendarmes stood by as more than 100 migrants gathered in shallow waters before struggling aboard one overloaded inflatable bound for the UK.