Asylum seekers could be held on disused ferries under new government plans, it has been revealed.

Ministers are expected to unveil legislation to move people who have crossed the Channel out of hotels and into alternative "accommodation".

The use of hotels in Kent to house asylum seekers has been widely criticised by residents, councils and MPs alike.

New plans would see disused military bases and ferries used to hold those who had made the crossing – with the RAF base in Scampton, Lincolnshire, the first to be targeted.

There had been previous suggestions to use holiday camps and student accommodation, but these are understood to be less likely to happen, according to Sky News.

It comes as a refugee charity alleges the cost of detaining and accommodating people under the government’s controversial plans to tackle Channel crossings could amount to more than £9 billion in the first three years.

More than 250,000 people, including up to 45,000 children, could have their asylum claims deemed inadmissible under the Illegal Migration Bill in that time, the Refugee Council said.

The charity said its policy experts came up with the estimates as part of an impact assessment of the consequences of the first three years of the Bill, assuming it comes into force on November 7, six months after it was introduced in Parliament.

Its calculations are based on the Home Office being able to remove 10,000 people to Rwanda in each of the three years, detaining people for an average of 28 days and accommodating those who are not detained.

The Refugee Council assessment said: “In the first three years of the legislation coming into effect, between 225,347 and 257,101 people will have their asylum claims deemed inadmissible. This includes between 39,500 and 45,066 children.

“At the end of the third year, between 161,147 and 192,670 people will have had their asylum claims deemed inadmissible but not have been removed. They will be unable to have their asylum claims processed, unable to work and will be reliant on Home Office support and accommodation indefinitely.

“In total, between £8.7 billion and £9.6 billion will have been spent on detaining and accommodating people impacted by the Bill in the first three years of its operation.”