Updated

Hundreds of sub-Saharan migrants have tried to scale six-meter (20-foot) barbed-wire fences to enter Spain's northwest African enclave city of Melilla from Morocco for the third day in a row.

The Interior Ministry said 250 migrants made the attempt early Thursday but only one got across and avoided police interception.

Groups of some 700 migrants stormed the fence Tuesday and Wednesday with dozens of them staying atop the fence for several hours before police persuaded them to climb down and return to Morocco.

Thousands of African immigrants living illegally in Morocco regularly try to enter Spain's enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta in a bid to reach Europe.

The ministry says 1,338 migrants have been intercepted trying to reach Spain by boat since Aug. 4.