Locals living near a 17th century country estate used to house asylum seekers today said they 'no longer feel safe' in their village.

Winford Manor in North Somerset is now accommodating illegal, small boat migrants, reports say.

Jacob Rees-Mogg was filmed there last week - and today (Mon) its wrought iron gates remained locked.

But locals living nearby say the migrants have been intimidating villagers - especially young women walking alone.

The 36 bedroomed property in the small village of Winford has apparently been used as an asylum centre for three years.

It was once a luxury hotel, wedding venue and a religious retreat before being bought by an investment firm.

During September 2022 a parish council meeting told villagers it was going to cease operating as a hotel and become an asylum centre with migrants.

Non-paying guests are still there from a variety of countries including Eritrea, Syria, Ethiopian, Kenya and Somaliland, report say.

Local resident Ross Harris, 64, said: "I have lived in the village my whole life, I know every one - and I know that not one person agrees with this."

Ross said that the asylum seekers "appeared to move into the hotel overnight".

The self-employed carpenter explained: "It's like it happened overnight - the parish council had no control over this and they didn't even know what was happening. It is completely government run.

"One minute Winford Manor was a manor house, the next minute they were there."

He said that Jacob Rees-Mogg latest visit to the hotel made him look like 'out of touch' - as the asylum seekers have lived in Winford Manor for over three years now.

He explained: "It's not exactly new news.

"Moggs has made himself look like an idiot - because it's no secret.

"Apparently they used to live in a Holiday Inn on the A38."

Ross alleges he has heard rumours of the asylum seekers intimidating young women on horses and locals in the village - but these claims have not been confirmed.

He said: "At the start, the men would intimidate the young women riding on horses around the area - they would shout at them. But they don't do that so much anymore.

"Then they would come to the village and intimidate people. Apparently one time one of the men was disrespectful to a young girl who was working behind the bar at the pub, and the owner had to grab one of them and kick him out.

"The fact is young women, or anyone really, would not go walking their dog alone round here.

"We don't even know who they are."

He said that another reason local villagers are "annoyed" is because of the strain on the local doctors - as people are allegedly having to wait over three weeks for appointments.

Ross said: "Locals already have to wait three weeks to see the doctor - and people are moaning as a doctor is sent into Winford Manor every week.

"Even if you wanted to go in, you can't as it's completely locked up - and apparently it's filthy in there now."

Tony Gould, 66, and Carly Gibbs, 38, have lived on a former poultry farm behind the Winford Manor with their nine-year-old son and four-year-old daughter for 25 years.

Tony is also not happy about the transformation of the once-religious retreat and boutique hotel into an asylum manor.

He said: "It was a nice hotel, boutiquey - when I moved here it was a religious retreat!

"Then the main guy there died, and his partner turned it into a hotel.

"I don't know whether he got into trouble or what - but he disappeared.

"Then it was bought by IntSol - they ran it for a bit, and then this guy - he's got one in London, obviously had a contract and thought well I can buy that and the home office will pay for it.

"But it's been three years!

"It is the not knowing who is there!

"When it was families it wasn't quite as bad, you didn't feel as unsafe because it was mostly women and children - but now it's more blokes."

Tony explained that the village were unaware about the arrival of the asylum seekers.

He said: "No one knew that this was going to happen - there was a parish council meeting in the village hall where it was decided back in 2022.

"Locals were expressing their distress about these people who were going to be coming here.

"But all the council, you know they're left-wing, were saying you know these people had been traumatised, they're fleeing this and that - which we all know is a load of rubbish.

"It was families to begin with - there are still kids in there, as you can hear them every now and again.

"But the Saturday before last there was around 12-15 men just sat outside talking and laughing.

"We've seen them congregating about around here and you know some are obviously working, as you see them at 8am with rucksacks and the company that own the place have their own minibus.

"We followed it into Bristol one day - only because we were going in ourselves.

"It was about 10 in the morning - but I don't know where it takes them.

"And then there is constant taxis coming to collect them and drop them off and they come in my drive by mistake."

Tony, who runs his own company buying and selling commercial catering equipment, said he had spent more than £2,000 on installing CCTV cameras and upgrading security lighting since the asylum centre set up operations.

Tony also has three dogs - two of which he got a few years ago to deter visitors.

He added: "We're always on guard.

"You see it on the news, see it in the papers about stabbings - people being attacked and killed, these total random acts of violence.

"One day I came out of my property and saw three stood on the concrete by the entrance, another one down through the grass there

"I came out and asked what are you up to, one came up pulling his trousers up - I guessed he was taking a dump.

"They've got a bit of an attitude when you say come on this is private property get out! They look at you as if you're the problem, you know!

"They were meant to be for two years, families only - but now it's three years in.

"We were looking forward to it being over because we got two young kids - the worry of them here.

"My son suffers terrible anxiety here at night - it's because of that, and he hears it on the news.

"It's gone past the two years - we contacted the home office and council and they cant give us any answers.

"No one says nothing.

"Most of these places have five year contracts! Although Jacob Rees-Mogg's piece says that the neighbours' have the owner's contact number - which is bull****.

"I haven't got his number! No one has ever spoke to him - no one from the council, the police.

"We've had the police here because we've called the police to say we don't feel safe.

"We've seriously considered moving out and leaving the place empty until they're all gone.

"Seriously. Just to go and sleep somewhere else - for my wife and the kids, we've seriously thought about it."

The Home Office and North Somerset Council have been contacted for comment.