Britain should be prepared to accept some migrants from the illegal camp in Calais known as "the jungle", a senior United Nations official has said.High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said the government should consider granting entry to those who already have large families in the UK.
He spoke after French officials said the camp would be shut down imminently.
The UK Border Agency said details of the closure were "matters for the French government".
The camp has replaced official centres like Sangatte as a gathering point for migrants hoping to cross to Britain.
Some 1,500 people, many of them from Iraq and Afghanistan, are now living in insanitary settlements close to the port.
'Granted protection'
France's Immigration Minister Eric Besson told French television that imminent closure of the 'jungle' would send a strong message that people traffickers could no longer use Calais.
The minister was due to hold talks on the issue with Mr Guterres on Thursday, but in the meantime, the high commissioner told the BBC the UK should be prepared to help France handle the closure.
"There will be situations in which we would recommend the British authorities consider the possibility, within reason, of receiving, for instance, people who have large families in Britain and things of this sort," he said.
UK Border Agency spokesman
"What I believe is important is that everybody that is in need of protection should be granted protection."
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