A council leader has stepped in to try to calm the controversy sweeping through a seaside town over asylum seekers.

Ken Bodfish, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, wants to cool emotions that have led to heated quarrels among the people of Saltdean.

The owners of the town's Grand Ocean Hotel sparked outrage among residents after we revealed they planned to accept small parties of asylum seekers as temporary guests among paying holidaymakers.

Residents have swamped the town's web site with emails against the plan, while others have spoken in defence of the hotel's decision.

Last weekend, racist graffiti appeared on the walls of the hotel but this was quickly cleared up.

Now Mr Bodfish has sent an email to colleagues urging them to consider the best interests of residents and visitors, whoever they may be.

While Mr Bodfish said he did not intend to engage in slanging matches with opposition members over the use of the hotel as a temporary asylum seekers' centre, he admitted the National Asylum Seekers Service had not given satisfactory answers on the effect its decision to use the hotel could have on social services, health education and policing.

However, he said the council's main interest was the welfare of asylum seekers and residents and added: "Our concerns about these points in no way reflect the view that asylum seekers should not be accommodated in the city.

"It is a responsible response, based on our duty towards the residents and visitors to the city as a whole."

"This is why the council's chief executive David Panter acts as the council's spokesman, rather than encouraging a party line. Accommodating asylum seekers is UK Government and EU policy and we wanted to keep the temperature as low as possible."

Mr Panter refused to allow local councillors to attend a meeting with the Home Office for that reason.

Coun Bodfish said: "My firm view is that the approach we have taken was right and we should not engage in any slanging matches.

"Let those who want to expose their prejudices do so."

However, Rottingdean councillor David Smith claimed the issue was being poorly handled by the Labour-led council.

Coun Smith said the leader's concern about the effect of asylum seekers on the area was similar to that of local councillors and added: "When said by a senior Labour politician, these words suddenly become acceptable, whereas if said by Tories, we are accused of being racist and uncaring. Double standards?"

Coun Smith said Coun Bodfish was claiming to be non political, yet one of his first responses had been to call a special meeting of the ruling Labour group with other councillors excluded.

Coun Smith said: "By his own admission, we still do not have satisfactory answers to the question of local services that might be needed in order to accommodate asylum seekers in Saltdean."

Rottingdean councillor Lynda Hyde said she was furious at being excluded from the meeting with the Home Office.

Staff at the hotel are also worried about the impact the row over asylum seekers could have on the image of the town.

A member of staff sent an email to the town's web site urging people not to scare off tourists by building up hysteria on the matter.

The email warned that residents, by the very nature of their opposition, could frightening off holidaymakers, which could lead in turn to more rooms being offered to asylum seekers.

The letter said the hotel was battling for holiday business and went on: "The asylum situation/donation would ease this as far as funds go, but the cost would be the loss of further run-of-the-mill holiday makers."