Almost 20 children seeking asylum have now moved into Whitstable’s Ladesfield centre.

A spokesman for Kent County Council confirmed the authority had placed 17 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the building.

The former care home, in Vulcan Close, was earmarked as a temporary reception centre for 40 teenage migrants in July.

By Tuesday, KCC had a total of 772 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in its care.

Last March, it had been looking after 220.

The Ladesfield news comes after former city councillor Julia Seath joined the Rev Steve Coneys and two others on a trip to the migrant camp in Calais.

Mrs Seath spoke about her experiences at a sermon in All Saints Church on Sunday after visiting the camp – known as the jungle – on Saturday, September 19.

Mrs Seath told the sermon: “Last Saturday, it was a beautiful, warm, bright and sunny day.

“On arrival, we encountered the tall lines of fencing; we saw the surveillance drones in the sky above. It is home to approximately 6,000 refugees fleeing from war in their homelands.

“For me it was one of the most humbling experiences of my life and I will never forget it..." - Julia Seath

“As far as the eye could see, the campsite on rough terrain was a mass of colourful tents and shacks.

“Among them were a few battered old caravans – it is basic human nature to build homes or shelters.”

Mrs Seath spent three hours in the camp.

She added: “Suddenly in the distance above the top of all the makeshift shelters we glimpsed a cross.

“We were approaching the church which had featured in the recent BBC Songs of Praise.

“It was wonderful to be reminded of the presence of the holy spirit.

“In this camp, Muslims and Christians are working and living alongside each other, supporting each other and striving to keep some kind of normality.

“We saw men of different cultures washing and cleaning their teeth together at a water pipe.

“Although some refugees were reluctant to engage in conversation most were friendly and responsive to our approach.

“For me it was one of the most humbling experiences of my life and I will never forget it.”

BRITAIN FIRST PROTEST

Far right extremist group Britain First is continuing its campaign against the Ladesfield site.

Leaflets were handed out in Whitstable over the weekend calling for the centre’s immediate closure.

The leaflet read: “We call for the immediate closure of this refugee hostel to ensure the safety of our young children who will be walking past it on a daily basis on their way to school.”