Zoe Flint, deputy mayor of Dereham, has urged locals to be more welcoming towards those being temporarily housed at Hotel NR19.

Residents of the hotel, along with relatives of others staying there, have spoken of feeling ostracised by the town and insisted they are “just people that need help.”

Mrs Flint and an officer from Breckland District Council had a tour of NR19 last week (Image: Newsquest)

NR19 has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, but Mrs Flint said a recent visit - where she spoke with residents and owner Tony Burlingham - was overwhelmingly positive.

She said: “I think it is such a shame that any trouble or incidents that happen in Dereham are........

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