Conservative leader William Hague told of his concern over the influx of asylum seekers to Sussex.

He spoke exclusively to the Argus during a visit to Park College in Eastbourne, where he toured classrooms and chatted to pupils.

The Tory leader, who arrived at the school by helicopter, was joined by Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson, who has already criticised the Government during a Commons debate over refugees.

Mr Hague told the Argus: "We've got to deal with this situation and we have to be firm but fair. We must always offer refuge for genuine refugees but there are a large number of people who are not fleeing oppression but are still claiming asylum.

"We must be sure those who are illegally entering the country are made to leave." Mr Hague said he felt communities, including Eastbourne, would suffer under the strain of coping with asylum seekers.

"There is a particular problem in the South East, although this is really a problem for the whole country. There are several places where more money is being spent on immigrants than elderly people. That will be resented by a lot of people."

Mr Hague said his party was very much behind calls for the monitoring of asylum seekers to be improved. He said: "The figures themselves are understated. Nigel Waterson is quite right to ask the Government what the figures are and I support that."

The Tory leader spent an hour in Eastbourne where he met local party members preparing for the local elections next month. His visit was briefly delayed by a bomb scare at a property in Willingdon Drove, which turned out to be a false alarm.

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