Asylum seekers who were staying at a hotel that was at the centre of anti-migrant protests have all been removed from the site.

Last year, demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel in Essex turned violent after Ethiopian resident Hadush Kebatu sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl.

All the migrants who were being housed there have today been removed, according to the local authorities, and only security staff remain on site.

In a statement, Epping Forest District Council said: ‘Despite ongoing engagement with the Home Office, we did not know in advance that this was going to happen.

‘We are seeking clarification from the Home Office on the details of what has happened and what their next steps will be.’

The Home Office cited fire safety concerns, and said the migrants were vacated as a precautionary measure.

Kebatu was found guilty of five offences – including sexual assault – and jailed last September.

Less than a month later, he was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford, before being detained and deported to Ethiopia.

The Home Office would not comment further on The Bell Hotel last night, but said the Government was ‘removing incentives drawing illegal migrants to Britain’.

‘We are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation including ex-military sites,’ a spokesman said.

‘The population of asylum seekers in hotels has fallen by 35 per cent in the last year and by 63 per cent from the peak under the previous government.’