It was the latest surge in the tide of African immigrants trying to cross into Europe. Spain’s two North African enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta are particularly vulnerable and have had repeated attacks by hundreds of immigrants this spring, News24 reported

According to Spain 140 of the migrants managed to enter Spanish territory despite the efforts of the border police.

The migrants on Thursday rushed the fences in two waves, with 500 arriving in the early hours and a further 200 four hours later.

By afternoon, more than 150 people remained perched on an outside border fence, fending off police by setting fire to clothing and throwing it at them, Spanish officials said. Some even swung batons wrenched away from officers.

Police used pepper spray to try to force migrants down from the 6m – high fence, but some climbed onto the lamp posts used to illuminate the border.