A group of refugees are celebrating after a High Court judge ruled that their stay in Sussex should be funded by the county council.

About 30 people from the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia are living in a Crawley hotel.

Today, group spokesman Narainen Geannoer said the ruling means they can live in the town to carry on fighting their case for permanent residence.

He said: "We are all so happy that we can stay.

"We want to return to our homeland eventually but this means we can stay to fight for recognition from the British government.

"We are British passport holders and all we want is the rights owed to us."

The group were forced to move to Mauritius in the late Sixties and early Seventies, when American authorities, aided by Britain, took over their island to build a military base.

But West Sussex County Council says they should not have to house the group, claiming it is not their responsibility.

The bill for supporting them has already soared to more than £500,000, with the council forking out about £1,000 per person per week.

Angry council bosses, who say the Government should be footing the bill, had originally planned to stop supporting the refugees next week.

A spokesperson for the county council said: "We do not understand how they can come to this decision just because they arrived at Gatwick which is in this county.

"It seems we must continue to support them until a complete decision on their future has been made.

"But it seems like that could also take a long time.

"We now cannot withdraw our support, as planned, next week and we are worried about the financial state it could leave us in.

"We would prefer the Government to respond because we feel they are responsible for them.

"Obviously we don't want them to be out on the streets but we also can't afford to support them."

She added the council could be financially crippled, and local people could suffer.

"It could leave social service in a financial mess and it is using money that should be used for the elderly, ill and people who can't fend for themselves."

Mark Dunn, Cabinet member for social and caring services, said they were even willing to pay for the refugees to fly home.

He said: "The council is still offering to help the islanders return to their homes in Mauritius.

"So far no one has accepted this offer. In being advised to return home the islanders are not being treated differently to other UK nationals.

"If the people are claiming that life in Mauritius is intolerable, or that their wish to return to Diego Garcia should be met, then this is a matter for the Government alone."