I am the descendant of asylum seekers who fled to this country to escape torture, murder and persecution for religious beliefs.

When we arrived in here, people said our presence threatened jobs, standards of housing, public order, morality and hygiene.

So was this five, ten, 20 years ago or perhaps in the 1950s? No, my family descended from Huguenots and arrived in 1695 from Catholic France. We brought many new skills from the continent and although still identifiable for half a century, were absorbed into the population.

Many of you will have Huguenot blood running in your veins.

Most asylum seekers are intelligent and must be determined to succeed in getting to the UK. So isn't it time we moved away from 17th Century prejudices and welcomed these newcomers to our country?

-Lyn Saunders-Denton, Brighton