THERE are believed to be close to 600 Afghan refugees still living in hotels across Essex – plus almost another 100 in a Southend hotel.

The Taliban swooped to take control of the country in May of last year following the withdrawal of US soldiers from the Middle Eastern nation.

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans fled their homes, with many seeking refuge in the UK having worked alongside or helped British forces over the last two decades.

Today, an Essex County Council (ECC) motion proposed by the Liberal Democrats called for the council to apply for Government funding to help move “more than 300 Afghan refugees” living in hotels across the county “some of whom have been there nearly a year, due to a lack of homes for them to rent”.

However, Chelmsford Lib Dem councillor Stephen Robinson claimed the number was closer to “600”.

There are also known Afghan refugees living in Essex’s unitary authorities – which don’t count towards the ECC total – such as the 90 refugees who have been living in The Park Inn by Radisson Palace, on Church Road, since September of last year.

The location of many of the refugees is unknown, however Rochford Council has confirmed close to 100 live at the Skylark Hotel, off Aviation Way,

Councillor Aidan McGurren (Labour Pitsea) said: “It is shocking that we have over 300 Afghans still stuck in hotels across the county, some for almost a year now.

“It’s all the more shocking when we cast our mind back to the scenes of evacuation of refugees from Afghanistan.

“There were people who risked their lives and their families’ to opposed one of the most brutal regimes the world has ever seen.

“The repercussions for their bravery helping the west would have been to horrific to even contemplate.

“It hardly seems an appropriate reward for them to be stuck in temporary accommodation for so long.”

The motion further called for discussions with the Government to identify Government-owned land and property where Afghan families might be accommodated.

It was defeated by a Conservative ammendment which challeneged the language of the motion but agreed to work towards moving refugees on from hotels.