The government is seeking to appeal the High Court’s refusal to allow it to intervene in the case of a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Epping.

Earlier this week, Epping Forest District Council was granted a temporary injunction to stop people being placed at the Bell Hotel.

The court refused an last minute effort from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to get the council’s case dismissed.

Home Office Minister Dan Jarvis said the government was committed to closing all asylum hotels, but added “we need to do that in a managed and ordered way”.

“And that’s why we’ll appeal this decision.”