Breckland Council has confirmed that the government sought to place 21 asylum seekers in Thetford, with the authority given no warning they were coming.

The move sparked an initial rift between the council and the Home Office which has since escalated after 11 more asylum seekers were placed in Watton this month - again without Breckland's knowledge.

Newly released letters from early this year have revealed that Serco, the government's contracted accommodation provider, leased properties in Thetford and began moving asylum seekers in without informing the council.

The latest revelations - which were made public after Breckland Council published letters sent from them to government officials - have laid bare the lack of communication and transparency between the Home Office and Breckland.

Breckland says it does not know exactly when the men arrived, where they came from or how many men were ultimately housed in the towns - information it says only the Home Office can provide.

Mid-way through the Thetford placements, Sam Chapman-Allen, the leader of Breckland, formally requested a pause to allow the council to assess local capacity and consult partners.

The Home Office refused the request.

Sam Chapman-Allen (Image: Breckland Council)

In a letter to Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, on February 9, he wrote: "Proceeding in this way, despite explicit advice from the local authority, gives rise to significant concern about whether local intelligence and........

© Eastern Daily Press