I was shocked and saddened to receive a leaflet encouraging people to protest against asylum-seekers in the Grand Ocean Hotel.

I had not realised what a racist country I live in, where we refuse to help others who are in dire need because it may result in a fall in house prices in the area.

These asylum-seekers have lived through torture, loss and betrayal and I would like to think if our own country was ever in the same need, we would be able to seek refuge elsewhere.

In my work, I deal with a lot of asylum-seekers and have found them to be kind people whose only wish is to build a better life for themselves and their families.

-Vanessa Austin Locke, Coombe Vale, Saltdean