Plans to turn a holiday park into accommodation for asylum seekers have been dropped by the Home Office.

Earlier this month the government announced it was considering using a number of Pontins sites across the country, including the one in Camber Sands in nearby East Sussex, as an alternative to pricey B&Bs.

A growing number of Kent hotels hare being used to house asylum seekers, with the policy as a whole costing taxpayers £5.6 million a day.

But now the Pontins site is no longer being considered.

The news has been welcomed by council leaders in East Sussex who felt the site was 'unsuitable' for a number of reasons.

It follows strong lobbying from all public sector partners in the county, including the site’s freehold owners Rother District Council and Sally-Ann Hart the local MP.

Partners pointed out the site is unsuitable because of limited access and a lack of the extra public services that would be needed – including healthcare and school places.

Doug Oliver, leader of Rother District Council, said: “We welcome this sensible decision by the Home Office.

"This would not have been the right arrangement either for migrants or for residents”

"Camber is not a large community and while visitors to the beach and the holiday park are welcome, this would not have been the right arrangement either for migrants or for residents.”

Keith Glazier, leader of East Sussex County Council, said: “Our county has a proud record of providing accommodation and support for people in need and this includes the significant number of migrants we’ve welcomed into East Sussex over recent months.

"There are limits to what any county can do though, and we’re very pleased the government has recognised this.”

The Home Office confirmed it would not proceed with the plan in a letter to Rother District Council and East Sussex County Council earlier today.