Calais/Paris: Migrants trying to reach Britain from Calais are mutilating their fingers to conceal their identities.

They are burning themselves with hot metal rods or using razors to slice off skin to beat fingerprint analysis machines.

Others use superglue or even acid to remove the skin patterns.

The migrants taking the drastic measures are often those with criminal records. Immigration officials can use information on previous offenders in their system to stop them entering Britain.

Others can be deported if fingerprint checks reveal they have lodged asylum applications elsewhere.

But if their fingerprints cannot be identified they are free to lodge a claim to stay here. Calais officials say self-mutilation is especially prevalent among North African migrants.

Many reach Italy on overcrowded boats and are immediately fingerprinted by officials for a European database called Eurodac.

Most are reluctant to stay in Italy but will be returned there if picked up anywhere else in Europe and identified by their prints.

Gerard Gavory, prefect of Calais, revealed yesterday that at least 57 asylum seekers questioned in the port over the past few weeks had erased their fingerprints. Gavory said most had placed their fingers on a heated oven hob. Knife and razor scars were also commonplace, he said.

One migrant, who is sleeping rough in Calais, told Daily Mail of the pain he had suffered burning off his fingertips last week.

The 27 year old, who calls himself Antonio, left Eritrea in Africa five years ago to try to reach Britain.

If he is caught by French police, and identified, he will be sent back to Italy - the country he landed in.

"I burn my fingers because then the police will not be able to work out who I am," he said.

"Some people might think this is mad, but I must have a better life in Britain.

"They do not treat asylum seekers very well in Italy, so I must not go back there.

"I have to heat up a metal rod in the fire until it is very hot - then I grip it hard so my fingertips burn off.

"I have to do this every month because my fingertips grow back... This is the only way to remove my history and create a better future somewhere else."

Another migrant, who calls himself Simon, has been deported from the UK once and burns his fingertips to stop immigration officials recognising him if he makes it back.

Police in Calais believe that a significant number of the 2,000 migrants sleeping rough in the town are repeat asylum seekers with criminal records.