VILLAGERS living near a 17th century country estate used to house asylum seekers today said they “no longer feel safe” in their village.

Locals suggested that Winford Manor, near Winford, is accommodating asylum seekers.

Jacob Rees-Mogg was filmed there recently - and its wrought iron gates remained locked on Monday, September 1.

But locals living nearby allege that the migrants have been intimidating villagers.

The 36 bedroomed property in the small village of Winford has apparently been used as an asylum centre for three years. It was once a luxury hotel, wedding venue and a religious retreat before being bought by an investment firm.

During September 2022 a parish council meeting told villagers it was going to cease operating as a hotel and become an asylum centre with migrants.

Local resident Ross Harris, 64, said: “I have lived in the village my whole life, I know every one - and I know that not one person agrees with this.”

He said that the asylum seekers “appeared to move into the hotel overnight”.

Adding: “The parish council had no control over this and they didn't even know what was happening. It is completely government run.”

Mr Harris alleges he has heard rumours of the asylum seekers intimidating young women on horses and locals in the village - but these claims have not been confirmed.

Tony Gould, 66, and Carly Gibbs, 38, have lived on a former poultry farm behind the Winford Manor with their nine-year-old son and four-year-old daughter for 25 years.

Mr Gould is also not happy about the transformation of the once-religious retreat and boutique hotel into an asylum manor.

He said: “It was a nice hotel, boutiquey - when I moved here it was a religious retreat.

“Then it was bought by IntSol - they ran it for a bit, and then this guy - he's got one in London, obviously had a contract and thought well I can buy that and the home office will pay for it.

“When it was families it wasn't quite as bad, you didn't feel as unsafe because it was mostly women and children - but now it's more blokes.

“No one knew that this was going to happen - there was a parish council meeting in the village hall where it was decided back in 2022.

“Locals were expressing their distress about these people who were going to be coming here.

“You see them at 8am with rucksacks and the company that own the place have their own minibus. We followed it into Bristol one day - only because we were going in ourselves. It was about 10 in the morning - but I don't know where it takes them.”

Mr Gould, who runs his own company buying and selling commercial catering equipment, said he had spent more than £2,000 on installing CCTV cameras and upgrading security lighting since the asylum centre set up operations.

The Home Office and North Somerset Council have been contacted by South West News Service for comment.