"From Whitstable to Korea, refugees are welcome here."

That was the message from campaigners this morning supporting plans to turn a former Whitstable care home into a base for 40 young migrants.

Protesting outside a surgery of the town's MP Julian Brazier, Kate Adams from campaign group Whitstable Stop the Cuts threw her support behind Kent County Council's plan to turn the disused Ladesfield Care Home into a temporary home for unaccompanied boys.

She said: "I know how vulnerable they are. I understand local people are concerned because they feel their own children will be under threat.

"But the local council has a duty of care to look after these children and they have reassurance they will be looked after under 24-hour care."We are fighting for children wherever they come from because vulnerable children, whether they live in Afghanistan or Whitstable, deserve our protection. "From Whitstable to Korea, refugees are welcome here."The surgery, held at Seasalter Christian Centre in Faversham Road, was attended by residents concerned about the plans to turn the site into a home for unaccompanied boys aged 16 and 17.The Ladesfield site overlooks Joy Lane Primary School and the Whitstable Day Nursery and concerned parents aired their worries at a meeting held on Thursday.Mr Brazier said: "The immediate position is that the county has a legal duty to house these vulnerable youngsters and this is the only building they had available."It’s quite clear that Ladesfield is not a suitable place for the medium to long term and we need to find somewhere else."We have got to find a long term solution and that shouldn’t be Ladesfield. It’s got to be recognised as a national problem, not a Kent problem."It would act as a temporary reception centre for asylum seekers who are supported for a maximum period of six to eight weeks each.KentOnline revealed this week how the home could be occupied in around a month's time.