Exiled tropical islanders due to be kicked out of their temporary homes in Sussex have been given a short reprieve.

A group of 45 Diego Garcians had been asked to leave hotels in Horley, Surrey, yesterday evening after West Sussex County Council stopped paying their bills.

The islanders, who flew to Gatwick from Mauritius on October 8, were fearing the worst in the winter conditions but Surrey County Council stepped in to house them for one more night. The group spent yesterday crammed in a hotel lounge with their baggage while the High Court decided whether to order West Sussex County Council to keep paying for their room and board.

The Diego Garcians' legal team was working last night to appeal for more financial support.

Jean Eric, 21, had travelled to Gatwick with his brother Gianno, 24, and said he was a British citizen who should be getting more support from the British Government.

He said: "I feel sad, depressed and angry all at the same time. When we came here, our hope was we would be cared for by the Government.

"I'm very sad and very surprised at their behaviour. Islanders have been here before. We heard they were cared for - why not us?

"We are very worried but I am intent on staying whatever may happen."

Only a handful of the group qualified for West Sussex council support because they had children or they were elderly.

About 30 islanders will have to wait for the High Court ruling before they have a hope of more permanent housing.

The problem is set to spiral with another 21 islanders expected to arrive at Gatwick Airport today.

The Diego Garcians were moved from their Indian Ocean home in the Sixties to make way for a US Navy base.

About 1,500 islanders were sent to Mauritius and The Seychelles where they suffered from poverty and unemployment.

More than 100 Diego Garcians, who have arrived at Gatwick Airport since 2002, were supported by West Sussex council at a cost of £500,000 to the county's taxpayers.

The Government refused to refund the money and the authority has since tried to resist paying out more.

Jean Eric said: "We do not know where we are going. We are living the same nightmare as our grandparents.

"We're in the street and only the sky is above. There were older Diego Garcians in the hotel and they were crying for us."

The group will only be eligible for benefits after they have lived in the UK for six months.

Allen Vincatassin, the islanders' community leader, was one of the first to arrive in England to appeal for repatriation to their island home and for compensation.

Since the courts ruled against the appeal, he has been working hard to ensure any Diego Garcian who comes to West Sussex is helped to resettle.

Relieved at Surrey council's help, he said: "I think the Government is doing the worst thing in the world by not helping my people. They are not considering British citizens.

"If the Government continues to do that, if we are victims of this, then the Government is not fit to continue - it is a most irresponsible thing to take our home and then forget us.

"The state is not doing its duty towards British citizens. If it can happen to us, then it can happen to any British citizen."