CAMPAIGNERS are determined to continue their fight against a proposal to use Sittingbourne's Coniston Hotel as an asylum seeker induction centre following talks with a Government minister.

Protestors emerged from yesterday's meeting with Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes with renewed enthusiasm to continue their battle.

Clive Eglinton, of Chalkwell Road, Sittingbourne, was one of seven representatives of the Sittingbourne Action Community in Kent who travelled to London for the meeting.

He said: "We have to fight very hard for our hotel. We have to keep battling and make sure that our views continue to be put forward, locally and nationally."

The campaigners were heartened by the attention Ms Hughes appeared to pay to their concerns over the potential loss of the hotel and the absence of adequate public consultation when the plans were first revealed.

Mr Eglinton stressed: "She obviously has other views to take into account, but I think we have had a very fair opportunity to put our points forward. But we have to keep the momentum going.

"It is the minister who ultimately has to make the decision on the Coniston Hotel scheme at the end of the consultation period."