A hotel in Cornwall housing asylum seekers will close today (Thursday, April 6) and the occupants moved out.

In a surprise announcement, the government has said that asylum seekers at The Beresford Hotel in Newquay will be moved to alternative accommodation in the South East of England over the next 24 hours.

The hotel has been the scene of regular weekend protests by those opposing the accommodation of asylum seekers and those supporting them.

Falmouth Packet: Support for those staying at the hotel Support for those staying at the hotel (Image: PA)

A statement posted on Cornwall Council’s Twitter page on Thursday reads: “The Home Office has informed the Council that the Beresford Hotel in Newquay is closing to asylum seekers from today (Thursday, April 6).

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 “Residents are being moved to alternative accommodation in the South East of England over the next 24 hours. No further information is available at present. This decision has been made without reference to the Council.

“We would like to thank residents in Newquay and across Cornwall for the ongoing support and welcome shown to residents who were temporarily in Newquay awaiting their asylum claims being determined.”

In February, Cornwall Council urged people not to attend an anti-asylum protest in Newquay saying at the time its “not welcome”, and to show “warmth and tolerance” to those people who were staying at the hotel lawfully and been legitimately housed by the government.

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In a statement posted on its website, Cornwall Council said: "Cornwall Council urges everyone to show warmth and tolerance to people residing in the Beresford Hotel Newquay, whilst they are lawfully and legitimately housed here by the UK government.

"The planned protests are not welcome, and we call upon every one to consider the circumstances of the individuals residing there. We encourage people not to attend the protests.

"The council, health agencies, charities, police and other partners continue to work together to ensure every resident feels safe and secure in the town.”

Pro-asylum seeker group Cornwall Resists said in a statement: 

"We are devastated at the news that the refugees have been moved out of the Beresford hotel.

"Our hearts are with these people as they are uprooted once again and begin another difficult journey in their search for sanctuary.

"We are full of anger at our MPs and council who have prioritised making Cornwall a playground for rich tourists over welcoming refugees.

"And our hearts are full of rage at the far-right who have manipulated this situation for their disgusting racism.

"We will still be reclaiming the streets in Newquay on Sunday to say loudly that Cornwall is antifascist and that these people do not speak for us."