ELEVEN Algerians who attempted to enter Spain on a small sailing boat have been taken into custody and will shortly be repatriated.

They reached the Orihuela Costa (Alicante) at around 11.00hrs yesterday morning.

Port authorities confirm the boat was spotted off the coast between Cabo Roig and the La Zenia hotel.

The passengers say they are from Algeria, but the process of identification has not yet been completed.

Remains of clothing and other personal effects were found in the nearby cliffs.

The coastguard say the boat was in a ‘very precarious condition’ and not safe to sail.

MP for the Alicante province, Encarna Llinares, says an intensive night-watch team will be along the whole of the Costa Blanca before the end of the year to nip attempts at illegal immigration in the bud.