Euro MP Martin Callanan: Angry at 'luxury excursion'

Civic officials at Newcastle City Council hired four coaches and paid admission and other costs for the party to go the Beamish Open Air Museum in County Durham.

But a North Euro MP has criticised the authority, branding the jaunt "extremely distasteful".

Conservative North East Euro MP Martin Callanan warned using public funds on days out for asylum seekers could drive people towards far right parties like the British National Party (BNP).

The Tyneside-based MEP said: "Most people in the North East will find this extremely distasteful at a time when many jobs are going in the region.

"When people believe that mainstream political parties are indulging in this sort of ridiculous gesture it does drive people in the direction of extremist parties.

"The North East wants to be welcoming and hospitable, but I draw the line at free days out and luxury excursions.

"The city council has told me the cost was �2,500, but I suspect it was greater than that when everything was taking into account."

A city council spokesman said the trip was part of an event to mark International Refugee Week.

The spokesman said the refugees, from Iraq, Zimbabwe and Somalia, were shown the cultural heritage of the North East.

He also said the trip to the award-winning museum taught the party about Britain's heritage.