A Warwick hotel is being used to house asylum seekers due to "the massive backlog in cases" nationwide, the town's MP has revealed.

Updating residents after a visit to the Delta Hotel on Stratford Road Matt Western said he had already spoken to the home office about the "little to no notice" of the decision to close the hotel for the next three months.

The Labour MP said he had raised local concerns as well as offers to help those staying at the hotel, following a mixed reaction to the news from residents.

"The additional hotel is being used to address the massive backlog in cases that the new government has inherited," he said.

"The staff on site were very professional and explained how the site is working as part of a government process to handle legitimate asylum seekers from bogus applications.

"Health checks and testing are undertaken prior to a person arriving at such hotels. Biometrics (DNA records) are also taken on first arrival.

"Under the new government this process is being speeded up and any person that does not meet the strict criteria for asylum will be returned or deported."

The sign has been covered up (image by James Smith)

Bookings are not being taken at the edge of town site, and security has been installed.

Mr Western has been told 360 asylum seekers will be given a home there.

The hotel's signs have also be covered.

"These are asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK, applied for asylum and are waiting for their application to be processed," the MP for Warwick and Leamington said.

"They are not 'illegal immigrants'.

"Upon arrival, whether you agree with the method they arrived in the UK or not, they applied for asylum and are legally allowed to remain in the UK while their application is processed."

A joint statement from Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council has also called for "compassion, and support for people in need" from the community.

Matt Western said he visited the hotel over the weekend (image by James Smith)