THE Gordon House Hotel in Dover will close as an induction centre at the end of March with a loss of around 70 places for asylum seekers.

The shutdown is being linked with a drop in the number of asylum claims.

George Adamou, the hotel's owner, has provided accommodation for asylum seekers for the past five years. He says his current contract with Migrant Helpline finishes on March 31.

It's not being renewed, he says, because the hotel is not filling all its places. The hotel can accommodate around 70 people. Mr Adamou says there are currently only around 30 people in the property.

The hotel is being sold. Mr Adamou said: “I am going to have a break and look at what else I can do. I might decide open another hotel.”

The hotel in East Cliff is one of three hotels in Dover holding asylum seekers when they enter Britain. The others, East Cliff Hotel and Cliff Court Hotel will continue to provide places for asylum seekers.