JUDICIAL review is in progress over asylum seekers in Hillingdon.

In June last year, the High Court ruled that Hillingdon Council could seek a judicial review after the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) changed the way it funds unaccompanied asylum seeking children between the ages of 18 and 24.

The change by the DfES meant Hillingdon Council had to find an extra £3.7million to fund further and higher education for the children if they were still living in Hillingdon when they reach the age of 18.

Hillingdon's three MPs, John Randall, Nick Hurd and John McDonnell, as well as the leader of Hillingdon Council and the leaders of the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups, have put aside their political differences to support the council's case.

The council will present its case against the DfES at the High Court this week on January 17 and 18.

Last year, the council had to face a number of difficult decisions, including staff redundancies, which were caused by the lack of money from the DfES.

The Judicial Review will hear the council's case that the DfES acted unlawfully in changing the funding for unaccompanied asylum seekers part way through the financial year and that as Heathrow Airport is in the borough, Hillingdon is unique and should be funded accordingly.

Leader of the council Ray Puddifoot said: "The London Borough of Hillingdon is unique in that we have Heathrow the world's busiest international airport in the borough and so have to deal with more unaccompanied asylum seekers than any other council in the country.

"We have a good record of supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children and young people and yet by not fully funding us, the government is passing the financial burden onto local taxpayers and not allowing us to do our job properly."

Hillingdon Council is currently supporting around 900 unaccompanied asylum seekers, the highest number of any council.