Fewer asylum seekers will be placed in a holiday park in rural Drenthe than the 1,400 originally planned, officials have decided, after locals complained of being overwhelmed by so many people.

The Pipodorp park is currently home to 400 asylum seekers and the problems are being caused by a group of around 100 single men, many from Eritrea, Nos television said.

Locals have complained that minibuses they use to get around are now full of refugees and shop-keepers have spoken of 40 at a time turning up in the village shop. Oranje itself has a population of around 120.

Local mayor Jan Broertjes has now agreed with the national refugee placement agency COA that only families from Syria will be placed in the park. The men will be relocated later on Wednesday.

Wifi

The Oranje park will now be given security guards and wifi, so that residents no longer have to go into the village to use the internet.

There has been a surge in refugee numbers, particularly from Syria, in recent months. In the first six months of the year, some 12,300 people requested asylum in the Netherlands, double the 2013 figure.

Earlier, school chiefs said they were struggling to cope with the number of refugee children.