All asylum seekers at Needham House Hotel in Little Wymondley have been moved out of the accommodation - just days after arriving - due to Home Office "concerns", the parish council has confirmed.

Last month, the hotel informed customers with bookings - including couples who had booked the venue for their wedding - that their reservations had been cancelled due to "government business".

Since then, Hitchin and Harpenden's MP, Bim Afolami, has spoken out against the decision to use the Little Wymondley hotel to accommodate people seeking asylum, concerned there is "insufficient infrastructure locally".

Devastated couples have also spoken of their distress at having their wedding venue cancelled, with some left with just weeks to find an alternative place to hold their nuptials.

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Now, Wymondley Parish Council has confirmed that the asylum seekers accommodated at Needham House have been moved out of the hotel.

Councillor Andrew Riches-Duit, the parish council's chairman, said Hertfordshire County Council has informed the parish council that Needham House "has been emptied".

He said: "We know that 14 people had arrived at the hotel - families and single women", but they were moved out less than a week later.

Councillor Riches-Duit added: "The Home Office had some concerns over the hotel, have removed the residents and it will remain empty until further notice. 

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"We have no idea if housing asylum seekers there will be revisited or what this means in terms of a contract between the government and the hotel owners."

The Comet has contacted Needham House Hotel, Mr Afolami, the Home Office and Hertfordshire County Council to clarify the situation, and we will provide an update as soon as possible.