PLAID Cymru leader Leanne Wood called for a humanitarian response to the refugee crisis at Calais today, saying that more fences and police will amount to little more than papering over ever bigger cracks.

Ms Wood spoke in light of another death in the Channel Tunnel and said a proper EU-wide approach was needed more than ever.

Party of Wales leader Ms Wood said: “The disturbing and increasingly desperate situation at Calais is the result of instability in the Middle East for which the UK should recognise its part in creating.

“As things stand, southern European countries are bearing the brunt of the crisis and thousands of desperate people are losing their lives and thousands more are risking theirs as they flee war in their homelands.

“Action is needed now to prevent the crisis getting worse at Calais. This must involve all EU states - including the UK - accommodating a fair share of refugees as soon as they enter the EU, rather than standing aside until there's a crisis at the UK border.

"Current UK refugee policies are failing and it is suspected that the UK government will fail to fill its current, modest refugee quota.

"Plaid Cymru proposes increasing UK refugee quotas and setting specific quotas for each of the nations of the UK, in partnership with devolved governments. We further propose UK agreement with states such as Italy and Greece to accommodate refugees on entry to the EU.

"Whilst Plaid Cymru supports sensible measures to secure the Channel Tunnel for safety reasons, more fences and police will amount to little more than papering over the cracks.

"Humanitarian action is needed at Calais immediately, alongside an EU-wide effort, with the UK meeting its full obligations."

Yesterday David Cameron said the UK would not become a "safe haven" for migrants, describing a "swarm of people coming across the Mediterranean, seeking a better life".

More than 3500 people have tried to enter the UK via the Channel Tunnel this week alone.