A French warship has shot toward a boat in the English channel which had a British Member of Parliament aboard, it has been claimed.

In a post online the Conservative MP Chris Philp shared a video appearing to show a warship monitoring the Channel firing in the vicinity of a boat he was on.

Mr Philp was filming with the local BBC, and wrote online: "On the channel today monitoring illegal migrant crossings … as I was being interviewed by the BBC just now a French warship approached close and fired 17 live rounds behind us."

He added: "There was no notice or training exercise in place. Felt like warning shots or attempted intimidation."

Michael Keohan, a local BBC reporter who was with Mr Philp at the time, described the moment as "surreal". Writing online he claimed that "the French patrol vessel came within 300m of our boat and shot down towards their stern (Back of their boat)."

He adds: "Photos of the french boat appear to show a small handgun aimed towards the sea. Around 17 shots fired."

Michael Keohan, a local BBC reporter who was with Mr Philp at the time, described the moment as "surreal". Writing online he claimed that "the French patrol vessel came within 300m of our boat and shot down towards their stern (Back of their boat)."

He adds: "Photos of the french boat appear to show a small handgun aimed towards the sea. Around 17 shots fired."

This is a breaking news story.