Ministers have scrapped plans to turn a hotel into accommodation for asylum seekers after it was revealed by a weekly newspaper.

The Home Office has confirmed it will not go ahead with the proposal for the Best Western Rockingham Forest Hotel, in Corby, to house immigrants seeking refuge in the United Kingdom following the exclusive by Northamptonshire Telegraph reporter Kate Cronin.

Kate broke the news of the plan on Monday online, but just 48 hours later the Government confirmed it would not be going ahead with the scheme.

Posting on Twitter, Kate said the story was a “great example of the importance of local newspapers”, adding she did not “believe there was any intention on the part of the Government to be transparent about this plan until we found out”.

The Telegraph’s Corby edition splashed on the plan, although last week’s edition went to print before the proposal was scrapped

Speaking to HTFP, she said: “We always try to place ourselves right at the heart of the community and, as such, we have a great relationship with the people of Corby.

When we were told of the plan on Friday, we knew that there would be significant concern. I worked on the story all weekend ready for it to go live on Monday. It drew one of the biggest social media responses we’ve had on a story this year.

“Of course, there were the usual over-the-line comments, but most people were upset that a much-loved hotel where people had married, had their prom, partied and marked so many special occasions was going to be closed.

“And worse, nobody had been consulted. I don’t think there was any intention at all by the Government to let people know of the plan in advance. They simply thought it would fly under the radar. Staff and guests, and those who had functions booked, had been given less than a month’s notice of the proposed scheme.

“Pressure on elected members grew through Monday and by Tuesday, the Home Office had called the whole thing off.

“Without our story and the community response it drove, I’m not sure that people would have been able to mobilise in quite the same way.”

In a briefing note to councillors on Wednesday, which the Telegraph obtained, North Northamptonshire Council said: “Members and senior officers will be aware that the Government and its contractor Serco had begun preparations to stand up the Best Western Rockingham Forest Hotel as an asylum contingency hotel.

“This morning the Home Office has notified the chief executive that it has not been able to secure the hotel and will therefore not be using it to accommodate destitute asylum seekers as planned.

“The Home Office has not given any specific details that informed their decision.

“Although the Home Office has stated they have not been able to secure this hotel, North Northamptonshire like all local authority areas could see an alternative facility being stood up for the purposes of asylum contingency in the short-term.”