Residents plan to protest outside a hotel in Saltdean set to be used to house asylum seekers.

Traders and homeowners in Saltdean are convinced if the Grand Ocean Hotel, Longridge Avenue, is used once it will become a regular stopover place.

Leaflets are being distributed saying "Saltdean is not Sangatte", which urge residents to attend a peaceful protest outside the hotel on Saturday at 10am.

The leaflet includes an official petition for residents to sign, objecting to the use of the former Butlin's hotel for asylum seekers.

Tonight residents will also be making their case to the full meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council.

Alan Hood, who has lived in Saltdean for more than 30 years, will be speaking for residents.

Marco Pasqule, chief executive of the Grand Ocean Hotel Group, which runs the hotel, has accused certain residents and local councillors of talking "absolute nonsense" and misleading the community.

He insists the hotel will only be taking a small number of asylum seekers and says "scaremongering" is damaging the commercial life of the Brighton suburb.

He insists the 598-bed hotel is not being sold to the Government for use as an asylum seekers' home and the hotel has not applied for a licence to house asylum seekers.

Residents were told in November the hotel would not be taking any asylum seekers but then were informed two weeks ago it would take them on a short-stay basis.

Now the council and the Home Office are saying any decision has been put on ice.