A group of around fifty asylum seekers have been told they will be moving onto the Bibby Stockholm barge today.

After several delays, the Home Office sent letters to asylum seekers, who are currently living in hotels, informing them that they will be moved onto the barge at Portland Port this morning.

A letter addressed from the Home Office to the asylum seekers wrote:

"You are currently being provided with asylum support under the Immigration and Asylum Act.

"Your accommodation is changing and you will be moved to the Bibby Stockholm, Portland Port.

"You are not being detained under immigration powers, and this is not detention accommodation. You are free to leave the site, but we would request that you sign in and out of the site when you leave and return, so we can assure your safety."

The asylum seekers were initially told they would be moving onto the barge on Tuesday August 1 and subsequently Wednesday August 2, before the move-in was once again delayed until today.

The Home Office said the delays were initially due to concerns over fire safety, following media attention.

The Home Office also said that stakeholders including Dorset Council requested the move-in date to be moved to the start of the week for operational purposes.

Stand Up to Racism Dorset will be welcoming asylum seekers at Portland Port from 10.30am.

They will be holding up welcome banners and providing welcome packs for the asylum seekers who are arriving. 

Welcome packs will be loaded into a van that has Port clearance, ready to be placed onto the barge for the asylum seekers.