Tricksters pretending to be immigration officers pulled off a hoax after threatening to leave dozens of asylum seekers in a holiday town.

The jokers called Eastbourne hotels offering thousands of pounds to rent rooms for people from Iraq and Afghanistan who had arrived in Dover.

Hotel staff then complained to Eastbourne's MP Nigel Waterson, who criticised officials for threatening to "dump" asylum seekers in his constituency.

After hearing about the plans, Mr Waterson told The Argus: "I have heard from local hoteliers who have been contacted in the last couple of days by immigration officers based in Dover.

"One large seafront hotel was told they could fill all their rooms.

"I understand a number of hotels have been approached in this way.

"It is not a good idea, either for the town or for the asylum seekers, if they are simply dumped here without proper consultation or arrangements.

"Have the relevant local authorities, including health and education, been informed, and are extra funds being made available to look after them?

"What effect will there be on our tourist trade?"

But Mr Waterson yesterday learned the calls had been made by pranksters pretending to be from the Home Office.

The MP, who described the hoax as "stupid and unfunny", said: "I cannot imagine what kind of person would be behind such a hoax."

Peter Hawley, operations manager at Claremont Lions Hotel in Grand Parade, received a call asking to rent out up to 40 rooms.

Yesterday the full extent of the prank dawned on Mr Hawley, who declined the request to rent out his rooms.

He said: "Somebody called to say they needed the rooms on Sunday night.

"It sounded plausible but we now believe it was a hoax.

"We have checked the person out and his name doesn't exist as an immigration officer.

"It is good news because I was angry the Home Office was thinking of wasting taxpayers' money on putting people up in three-star hotels."

Eastbourne Borough Council had also been made aware of the request to house asylum seekers and issued a press release.

It read: "Eastbourne is not a designated dispersal area for asylum seekers.

"We would expect to be notified by the Home Office of any change in this arrangement.

"We have not received any notification and are seeking to clarify the nature of any contacts that may have been received by hoteliers.

"Tourist accommodation is clearly vital for the town and we would not expect this type of shortterm accommodation to be suitable in these circumstances."

Last night the Home Office confirmed it had not contacted hotels in Eastbourne to house asylum seekers.