MORE than 150 asylum seekers are being put up at two Bournemouth hotels, the Echo can exclusively reveal.

A total of 88 are staying at the Roundhouse Hotel in Meyrick Road and a further 67 are being accommodated at the Heathlands Hotel on Grove Road, East Cliff.

The measure has been described by the Home Office as "short-term" due to overcrowding in London.

It is anticipated that the asylum seekers will be in Bournemouth for no more than two weeks and that they will not have access to statutory services such as schools and social services.

Officials from the UK Visas and Immigration department are due to meet up with Bournemouth council officials to discuss the matter on Tuesday.

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns said the asylum seekers were part of a group of 800 that were being housed in a hotel in Croydon, but were now being dispersed to other locations.

Because tourism played such a key role in the town's economy, Mr Burns said: "I am very concerned by this. "

"I will be talking to the Minister for Immigration to make sure Bournemouth is not a targeted destination for asylum seekers in the future. "

This is not ideal. I would have preferred they weren't there. But I have been assured these are exceptional circumstances."

He said he did not know from which country the asylum seekers were from.

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood said: "They are being chaperoned. Dorset Police are fully involved as is the council.

"I am seeking assurances that this isn't the thin end of the wedge. We need to make sure this is orchestrated in a safe and secure manner."

Bournemouth council leader, Cllr John Beesley, said last night: "We were informed today by the Home Office that they were accommodating a number of asylum seekers in the town due to overcrowding in London.

"The Home Office has made it very clear to us that the use of hotels is only ever acceptable as a short term measure and have reassured us that it will be for no more than two weeks.

"The council has also received reassurances from the Home Office that the asylum seekers pose no risk or cost to Bournemouth residents and we are meeting with Home Office officials early next week to discuss the matter further."

Staff at the Roundhouse Hotel said they were not aware of any asylum seekers at the hotel last night.

A spokesman at the Heathlands Hotel said they would not comment on the issue.