Protestors gathered outside of The Bell Hotel in Epping on Friday after the Court of Appeal overturned a temporary injunction that blocked asylum seekers from being housed there. The court judgement means that 138 asylum seekers staying at the hotel will not be forced to leave by 12 September. Court of Appeal judges ruled that the closure of The Bell Hotel in Epping would have “obvious consequences” on the government’s duty to house asylum seekers and would “incentivise” other councils to seek similar legal action if allowed. Epping has hit the headlines since protests began in July outside the hotel.

The Home Office’s bid to reverse a ban on asylum seekers staying at a hotel in Essex is due to be heard at the Court of Appeal.

If the government wins, the hotel will be allowed to keep housing asylum seekers