Whitstable MP Julian Brazier has expressed concerns over plans to turn a disused care home into a base for unaccompanied migrants.

Mr Brazier has written to the Home Office after plans were revealed to convert the former Ladesfield Care Home in Vulcan Close, Whitstable, into a temporary base for 40 teenage boys.

The 61-year-old has backed Kent County Council's plea to the government to ease the pressure on the county as it deals with an "unprecedented" number of young asylum seekers.

Mr Brazier wrote: "Kent has been forced to seek a new site to cope with the increase and the only site available is next to a primary school in my constituency – you can imagine the worry that is causing.

"Given the extreme pressure that this is putting on resources in Kent, I would be grateful if you could give this matter your urgent attention."

Mr Brazier added that he supports KCC in urging the home secretary to disperse asylum seekers across the country.

He added: "I am writing in support of Kent County Council’s letter to immigration minister James Brokenshire, requesting a national dispersal order, in the face of the unprecedented number of young asylum seekers that the council is having to cope with.

"I understand that the council would normally expect to deal with around 300 migrants a year, with a peak in the summer, but this year they received 101 in June and 40 in the first week of July alone.

"The current total stands at 500 so far for the year – levels which are unprecedented and quite unexpected."

Many people in the town have supported the plans.

Cllr Bernadette Fisher (Lab) said: "These young people will not have casually left their homes; some may have escaped from traffickers or been sent by their family to get away from a war zone.

"How brave they must be and how high their expectation of a safe harbour in civilised Britain!

"Ideally they would be housed with foster parents in a family environment rather than a care home but I know there is an acute shortage of foster carers in East Kent."

She added: "It is often said but no less true for that: how we treat the vulnerable is a mark of our civilisation. I, for one, am pleased we are stepping up to help these young people in need."

Former councillor Julia Seath added her support.

"I implore critics of the rumoured proposal to stop and imagine what life would be like if they and their children lived in fear of their lives every minute of every day..." - Julia Seath

She said: "We are fortunate to live in a country where our children can live and grow safely.

"I implore critics of the rumoured proposal to stop and imagine what life would be like if they and their children lived in fear of their lives every minute of every day.

"Imagine the children in their plight now in a strange country, as your own children, grandchildren or very young friends.

"Imagine them finding no-one willing to welcome them when they are alone and in most need of care and compassion.

"Whitstable people campaigned to keep Ladesfield open for the care of local elderly people but we failed and it has lain empty and unused for some time. What a waste.

"Why not, while their long term future is being considered, use it to provide a home and shelter for vulnerable children with nowhere to go."

The Whitstable Gazette revealed this week how the home could be occupied by young asylum seekers in around a month's time.

Kent County Council spokesman Murray Evans said: “There’s repair work to be done in the building, which will start imminently, and we expect them to arrive in about four weeks."