STAFF at a Swindon hotel have lost their jobs without notice, it has been claimed.

The Adver has been told all employees at the Thistle Express on Islington Street, except for some maintenance staff, were made redundant on Monday.

GLH Hotels, which runs the town centre hotel, has not responded to the Adver's requests for comment.

Jobs allegedly lost include around 11 of the 13 colleagues employed by the business owner GLH Hotels as well as around 10 members of the housekeeping team who were contracted through a third party.

One ex-employee who wished to remain anonymous told the Adver: "Due to the suddenness of the announcement, as well as the cost of living rising, a lot of sadness and anger is going around.

"We feel like we've been screwed over at the worst possible time.”

On Tuesday, the Adver reported that every date after September 26 has been crossed out on the hotel's website to indicate that no guests can check in at any point in the rest of this year or early next year.

Another source who wished to remain anonymous informed us that the Home Office may now be taking charge of the building with a one-year contract for whatever purpose they see fit, and that a company working on the government body's behalf will be helping to house asylum seekers in the former hotel.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The Home Office does not comment on operational arrangements for individual hotels.

“The use of hotels to house asylum seekers is unacceptable and we are working with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation across the United Kingdom.”

The Home Office aims provide safe accommodation for destitute asylum seekers who need it and is working to end the use of hotels, which are reportedly costing UK taxpayers almost £5 million a day.

Accommodation providers are responsible for identifying suitable temporary accommodation which can be used for this purpose and engage with local authorities around the proposed use of sites.

During a brief visit to the hotel's lobby on Tuesday, a member of staff told our reporter the building is now "a quarantine hotel" so only certain people were allowed to be in there for safety reasons, and anyone else would need to leave immediately.

GLH Hotels has not responded to the Adver's requests for comment.