A COUNCIL was criticised yesterday after it took 200 asylum seekers on a day trip to a museum at a cost of £2,500 to taxpayers.

Newcastle City Council came under fire for organising the visit to Beamish Museum, in County Durham.

The council defended its actions in treating the asylum seekers, from Iraq, Zimbabwe and Somalia.

They said the event celebrated the region's cultural diversity and taught the group about Britain's heritage.

But North-East Euro MP Martin Callanan warned that spending money on days out for asylum seekers could drive people towards far right parties such as the British National Party.

He 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 council hired four coaches and paid for entry to the museum, which costs £9 for an adult and £5 for a child when making a group booking.

A council spokeswoman said: "It is an opportunity to celebrate the rich and diverse mix of cultures in our region.

"It was decided this year that it was important to help people seeking asylum and refugees to appreciate the North-East's cultural diversity.

"Part of our remit is to work hard to integrate these people into local communities."

Daoud Zaaroura, chief executive of the North of England Refugee Service, said he welcomed anything that helped integrate asylum seekers into local culture and the community.