Great Yarmouth BC has obtained an injunction to stop a second hotel from being used as a hostel for asylum seekers.

In July around 50 asylum seekers were placed in the town's Hotel Victoria as part of a Home Office scheme.

Whitehall officials had planned to use the town's Embassy Hotel as part of the same scheme but the council sought an injunction on the basis that using the hotel as a hostel would be an unauthorised change of use, requiring planning permission.

The court order prevents the use of the Embassy Hotel as a hostel for accommodating asylum seekers until the end of November, when a full hearing will take place.

Council leader Carl Smith said: ‘We will continue to help support the asylum seekers placed in the town and who have no control over where they are housed.

‘We do have a responsibility though to enforce planning laws and make sure local residents and businesses all play by the same rules and are protected from unauthorised and inappropriate use of local properties.'