There is nothing for them here, no facilities, no support services

Bicester Action Group

Politicians from Throckmorton have vowed to take on the government.

Steve Mitchell, the chair of Pinvin Parish Council, said: "It isn't right to put asylum seekers in the middle of the countryside.

"We are a village of 150 people and we have already had our fair share of things happening around us.

"We have a foot-and-mouth burial site on the same airfield that they want to build the centre and we think the local community has done enough.

'Fighting'

"We certainly understand the need to have centres for asylum seekers but, like the refugee agencies, we strongly feel that this isn't the right solution.

"The government have a lot of hurdles to cross before it can build the centre and we will be fighting it every step of the way."

Residents at the other two chosen sites have expressed their anger at the government's decision.

In Arncott, near Bicester, the locals have raised a petition against the detention centre.

Dionne Arrowsmith of the Bicester Action Group, said: "David Blunkett is trying to tuck these people away in the middle of nowhere and, might I add, in strong Conservative seats.

"This area is very rural. There is nothing for them here, no facilities, no support services, nothing."

Each of the centres will hold around 750 refugees who will be able to leave during the day but must return at night.

The government also looked at sites at Killingholme and Hooton Park but decided not to proceed with them.

The Home Office is also understood to be planning further consultation with local people over the remaining three sites.