Protesters gather outside hotel used by asylum seekers

A large number of protesters have gathered outside a hotel used by migrant families

About 150 protesters gathered outside a hotel housing asylum-seeking families after the Home Office planned to change the occupants to single adult males.

It started with about 60 people shouting "we want our country back" while standing on the opposite side of the road to the hotel in Diss, Norfolk, just after 17:30 (BST).

They were met by about 30 counter-protesters holding signs that read "refugees welcome".

South Norfolk Council said it opposed changing the use of the hotel, which it learned about in a brief email from Whitehall last week. The Home Office said it was discussing the issue with the council and Adrian Ramsay, MP for Waveney Valley.

At one point, the larger group crossed the road and confronted the counter-protesters, who were standing near police officers.

Using a speaker system, a man asked the counter-protesters questions, such as why they felt migrants should be housed in the UK.

The refugee-supporting group left their spot outside the hotel to continue their demonstration elsewhere.

The other protesters then crossed the road, growing in number to about 150 people, before delivering speeches and chanting "send them home" outside the hotel's locked gates.

Protesters had chanted "send them back" during their demonstration

South Norfolk Council argued the families currently living at the South Norfolk hotel had become part of the local community, and replacing them with single men could reignite tensions and cause unrest similar to that seen in other areas.

It was reported by BBC News in June that 32,000 asylum seekers were living in hotels across the UK.

Speaking about the planned changes, Ramsay said, "the sudden uprooting of families" was "deeply concerning".

"Many of these families have been here for two years, becoming part of our community with their children going to local schools," he said.

"I understand that families are being told they must leave next week, yet they have not been given any information about where they will be going next.

"I am shocked and angered that any group of people would be treated like this. To uproot them in such a way is wrong."

Norfolk Police were also approached for comment.