Michael Howard has promised that a Conservative government would create a border control force to control immigration, fight crime and protect Britain.

The Tory leader, who was trying to move on from the Howard Flight saga, told reporters in Westminster: "We will have one face at the border. One police force. With one chief constable. With just one job: securing Britain's borders."

He added: "Britain is an island nation. We can control our borders. But it will only happen if we have a government with the determination to act."

Conservative ministers would force all ports to have 24-hour security and migrants from non-EU countries would have to carry biometric visas in a move aimed at people who destroy their papers on arrival in Britain.

The Liberal Democrats also promised a border force yesterday.