More than 1,400 African migrants have reached Spain’s Canary Islands last weekend, with one vessel bringing a single-boat record of 321 people, Spanish authorities said.

A total of 1,457 migrants had reached the Spanish islands off the western African coast between Friday night and Sunday morning. 

An emergency services spokesman said all of the arrivals hailed from sub-Saharan Africa. 

Saturday saw 321 people reach the island of El Hierro aboard one vessel, a rescue services spokesperson told AFP, surpassing the previous record for a single boat of 280 on October 3.

Spanish broadcaster TVE showed images of a multicoloured vessel crammed with smiling and waving passengers reaching port.

Latest data from Spain’s interior ministry show 23,537 migrants reached the Canaries between January 1 and October 15.

The Canaries route has been favoured in recent years with controls having been tightened in the Mediterranean.