St Luke’s Methodist Church in Hoylake has spoken out following protests outside a local hotel planned to house asylum seekers.

The church, which has supported refugees for over five years, said the demonstrations forced some residents to eat in corridors rather than communal spaces.

Rev Noel Sharp highlighted the Christian perspective, saying: “Every human being from a church perspective is created in the image of God and loved by God… Jesus was a refugee at his birth so that should be a significant story that shapes certainly the Christian church.”

Cate Warbrick, a church volunteer, told the WirralGlobe: “I’d like the community to see each other as human beings… so they can come together as a community which Hoylake is renowned for, for helping each other.”

The church hopes the incidents will not overshadow its work welcoming asylum seekers and fostering inclusion.