The Home Office is desperately scrambling to keep The Bell Hotel open for migrants, it has emerged.

Ministers on Friday confirmed they are appealing the High Court’s decision to block Yvette Cooper’s bid to intervene in the bombshell legal challenge against the Epping hotel.

Judge Mr Justice Eyre granted a temporary injunction preventing asylum seekers from being housed in the community in Epping.

Community leaders and politicians declared Tuesday’s bombshell legal ruling a “victory for the mums and dads”.

But Government sources confirmed they are appealing the High Court’s decision to refuse Home Secretary Yvette Cooper the right to intervene in the case.

The High Court ruling threw Labour’s asylum accommodation plans into turmoil by putting the future of more than 200 hotels at risk.

Councils across the country are plotting similar legal bids to close migrant hotels.

Home Office figures – covering Labour’s first full year in office – show there are still 32,059 migrants living in hotels.

This is up 8% from 29,585 in the year to June 2024.

This is a breaking story. More to follow.