We welcome being kept informed but take issue with the tone of the article about asylum seekers at the Grand Ocean Hotel, Saltdean (The Argus, January 11).

It was highly inflammatory, emphasising the number of beds at the hotel and quoting local politicians (stirring it up for their own political ends in the May elections, no doubt) as "disgusted".

Overnight, the exterior of the hotel was vandalised with racist slogans and people have been overhead saying "burn them out" and "shoot 'em" in one local tavern.

Such people, like your journalist, are obviously not in full possession of the facts. The hotel does, indeed, have more than 500 beds. But a maximum of 20 rooms will be used for asylum seekers. It will be temporary accommodation (up to one week) for families fleeing persecution in their homelands (which, as if we need reminding, is what asylum seekers are).

The truth is, despite fears that crime rates will soar (they will if the local drinkers carry out their truly disgusting threats) and the mistaken belief that local amenities will be swamped, most Saltdean residents probably will not even notice the asylum seekers are there.

If we know what is happening, we can stand up to the ignorant minority and disgusted individuals peddling their own political agendas.

We suggest The Argus interviews the asylum seekers when they arrive so we can better understand what it means to be driven out of your own home by dictatorial regimes, wars and racist neighbours in other parts of the world.

This would build bridges within our own community and be a far better idea than encouraging the same sort of behaviour that drives asylum seekers in our direction in the first place.

Liz Lee, (Telscombe Town and Lewes District councillor), Bevendean, Marina Baker

-Saltdean