STEVE REIGATE Migrants in Longford have been 'scared away' by media coverage and public outrage

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Longford, near Heathrow, west London, has been turned into a holding area for scores of migrants who are brought in by the coach load daily and then housed under a Home Office contract. Some have called it Britain's Calais - because of the growing number of economic migrants being shipped in. Traders say they are on the brink of closure as crowds of menacing displaced migrants hanging around on the streets scare away custom. Bizarrely, in one case, a stretch Hummer limousine costing £3,000 was used to ferry migrants out of the area.



But yesterday a bus load of immigrants, usually a daily occurence, failed to arrive and many of the migrants refused to speak out due to overwhelming media presence which had arrived in town to investigate.



Our female reporter approached one migrant only to be hissed at through bared teeth - a typical aggressive insult in many African nations. One local said he was not surprised they were lying low and added: "They know exactly how to play this game."

All the attention has scared them away Pensioner Ray

Businesses and locals in the village in west London, which dates back to the 14th century, suspect the media spotlight has "scared them away".



Some even say the Heathrow Lodge Hotel, which is housing the migrants temporarily while their claims for asylum are being assessed, have advised them to stay inside and keep hushed.



The hotel is understood to be owned by multi-millionaire Surinder Arora.



Rana Saif, 55, who runs the pub opposite the Lodge, said the huge influx of migrants has wrecked his business and he is extremely close to shutting shop.

STEVE REIGATE The Heathrow Lodge in Longford where a large number of migrants are staying

The Kings Arms pub landlord said: "It has driven me out of my business. I am leaving here because I have no money to stay.



"Some of the residents have been crying about the situation.



"But today it seems like [the migrants] have been told to stay inside because of all the attention this place is getting.



"The hotel saw all the media attention this place was getting and told them to stay away. They are cleverly controlling it.



"They know how to play this game."

STEVE REIGATE Longford, near Heathrow, has been turned into a holding area for scores of migrants

Migrants arriving in the idyllic village are said to have fled from countries including Syria, Iran and Eritrea with many having passed through the sprawling and notorious "Jungle" camp in Calais.



Long-term resident Ray, 85, said he lives on either side of temporary migrant accommodation.

TIM MERRY Pub landlord Rana Saif said the huge influx of migrants has wrecked his business

The pensioner who has lived in the village for 50 years said: "I've got them on either side so they just meet and have conversations in the middle of my garden.



"I am fed up with it and I just want it to quieten down.



"But today has been different because the coaches won't turn up again. The hotel must have belled them yesterday and told them not to turn up.



"They usually arrive everyday but they didn't arrive today or yesterday.



"All the attention has scared them away."

STEVE REIGATE A limo, costing £3,000, was used to ferry a group of migrants out of Longford

Another resident who lives in Heathrow Close, where some of the asylum seekers are staying in temporary accommodation, said the usual coaches hadn't arrived to drop off food for them.



She said: "They get three meals a day for £5. This could be a Tesco delivery or fish and chips.



"But I haven't seen anyone arrive to drop off today. It's all very strange."



Of the few migrants still in the area, many are young or middle-aged men who stay in pairs and sit on garden walls or hang around at bus stops.

When approached by Express.co.uk, they appeared reluctant to talk and claimed "I don't speak English".



The temporary accommodation is being rented out to the Home Office for refugees, with rooms available for £30 a day.



When approached by Express.co.uk, Heathrow Lodge refused to comment on the claims only insisting that "a coach had arrived this morning".



The Home Office provided a general statement but refused to comment on whether or not coach arrivals had been stopped because of the media glare.

It read: "The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it and we are committed to providing safe and secure accommodation while cases are being considered.



"Decisions on the use of the hotel accommodation, including which premises are used, are made by individual contractors who beat the cost.

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