A GROUP OF 20 asylum seekers who went on hunger strike over plans to evict them from a Thanet induction centre have ended their protest.

The men and women went without food and water for four days to protest against their eviction from the Nayland Rock Hotel in Margate.

Asylum campaigners said they were pleased the hunger strike was over and they were discussing other ways of getting their feelings across.

The protestors and local supporters staged a picket outside the hotel on Friday afternoon to draw attention to their plight. Several car horns were sounded and a number of car drivers shouted abuse. One pedestrian also shouted abuse, but was pacified by local protestors.

The government says the group did not claim asylum quickly enough when they arrived in the country. That means they do not meet deadlines under Section 55 of the Nationality, Asylum and Immigration Act 2002 which came into force in January.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S ISLE OF THANET EXTRA