MP Priti Patel has confirmed she is in contact with the Government over plans to use a hotel in her constituency as temporary accommodation for Afghan families.

The former Home Secretary, who represents Marks Tey, urged the Government to "deliver on the promises" made to people evacuated from Afghanistan since August 2021.

She said the Home Office had confirmed the Marks Tey Hotel, in London Road, is providing bridging accommodation for Afghan refugees.

As of August this year, 9,667 people, around half of whom are children, were living in hotel accommodation, although this number changes frequently as new arrivals enter the UK and others are moved into permanent homes.

Ms Patel said: "The Home Office has informed me that the hotel is providing temporary bridging accommodation for Afghan families who left their country as the Taliban regained control last year.

"I am in contact with the Government over these matters and the importance of ensuring that permanent accommodation is found for them quickly and support put in place for them and local councils to provide services while they are here.

"This use of hotel accommodation is temporary and officials in Government need to deliver on the promises made to enable those Afghan families affected to integrate into our society."

A spokesman for the hotel said: "We would like to advise that the hotel is temporarily being used for exclusive use and we are doing everything we can to help re-accommodate people impacted by the closure."

Colchester Council confirmed it is working with the Home Office to "understand and agree" details of the families the authority will be able to welcome to the borough.

The Home Office called its own policy of using hotels to accommodate refugees "unacceptable".

A spokesman said: ""The use of hotels to house asylum seekers and as bridging accommodation is unacceptable and we are working with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation across the United Kingdom."

The department added: "Accommodation providers are responsible for identifying suitable temporary accommodation that can be used for this purpose and engage with local authorities around proposed use of sites.

"Local authorities are key partners in enabling us to procure sufficient accommodation to end the use of hotel contingency."