A council has unanimously voted to urge the Government to close a hotel housing asylum seekers following a series of protests around the site in Essex. Multiple demonstrations have been held outside the Bell Hotel in Epping since July 13 after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

An Essex council has voted unanimously to urge the government to close a hotel housing asylum seekers, following a series of public demonstrations. Over the last two weeks, Epping has been at the centre of some divisive protest,