MANAGER Hamish Reed has rubbished rumours that asylum seekers are staying in his hotel after explaining they were trainee air traffic controllers from Algeria.

Stories have been circling Corsham claiming Iraqi asylum seekers were staying in the Methuen Arms Hotel and other public houses in the town centre.

But hotel manager Hamish Reed was quick to kill the rumour.

"From time to time we have people staying with us who are training at nearby bases. At the moment there are two Algerians with us. They are training to become air traffic controllers at Rudloe Manor," he said.

Mr Reed explained that the trainees were staying with them until they could find local accommodation.

"Rudloe College likes to place them with English families in the area so they can improve their English," he said.

The Home Office confirmed that no asylum seekers were placed in Wiltshire except for a few in Swindon.

"There are certainly no asylum seekers in Corsham. We only place them in larger places like Bristol," said a Home Office spokesman.

Mr Reed said the rumour was very amusing and had made his day. "There are no Iraqi asylum seekers here. There are just two pleasant, charming young men."