Nigel Farage hailed a "victory" after a council won its legal battle to close a migrant hotel. Epping Forest District Council has been granted a temporary High Court injunction blocking asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel.

The hotel has been at the centre of a series of protests in recent weeks after a migrant who was staying there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The Reform UK leader said: "This is a victory for the parents and concerned residents of Epping. They do not want their young women being assaulted on the streets.

"This community stood up bravely, despite being slandered as far right, and have won. They represent the vast majority of decent people in this country.

"Young, undocumented males who break into the UK illegally should NOT be free to walk the streets anywhere. They must be detained and deported.

"I hope that Epping provides inspiration to others across the country."

The injunction sought by the council meant the hotel's owner, Somani Hotels Limited, would have had to stop housing asylum seekers there within 14 days.

In a ruling today, Mr Justice Eyre granted the temporary injunction, but extended the time limit by which the hotel must stop housing asylum seekers to September 12.

He also refused to give Somani Hotels the green light to challenge his ruling, but the company could still ask the Court of Appeal for the go-ahead to appeal against the judgment.

In his judgment, he said that while the council had not "definitively established" that Somani Hotels had breached planning rules, "the strength of the claimant's case is such that it weighs in favour" of granting the injunction.

He continued that the "risk of injustice is greater" if a temporary injunction was not granted.

A further hearing on whether the injunction should be made permanent is expected to be held at a later date, and is expected to last two days.