Seven new countries are set to be designated "safe" by the Home Office in a bid to cut asylum applications.

Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, South Africa, Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are to be classified as "generally safe".

The announcement brings the total number of safe nations up to 24.

Applicants from the seven nations who have claims refused as "clearly unfounded" will have no right of appeal under the proposals.

Asylum seekers without a clear claim will have their cases fast-tracked through the Oakington reception centre.

Home Office minister Beverley Hughes said the changes were "part of our continuing drive to stop the widespread abuse of our asylum system".

"The countries that we are adding to the list today are generally safe - individuals from these countries are not routinely fleeing for their lives and do not routinely need our protection under the Geneva convention," she said.

"Introducing the list of safe countries in November last year dramatically cut numbers of asylum applications from nationals of the EU accession states and we are already seeing claims drop off from the seven countries we added in April this year."

The Home Office remains under pressure to reduce the number of asylum seekers.

Despite a recent report claiming that thousands of asylum applications may have been omitted from official figures, Hughes claims that tougher new measures are "beginning to bite".

The minister said there had been "a significant reduction in asylum claims".

"The UK is committed to providing a safe haven to those who need it but determined to tackled abuse of the system," she said.

"The expansion of the safe country list is one of a number of steps we are taking to tackle abuse of the system.

"We have strengthened our borders, introduced tougher offences for people trafficking and clamped down on illegal working.

"However, we are not complacent and are considering further measures including new legislation to create a single tier of appeal and tackle those who deliberately destroy their documents in order to make fraudulent claims."