An Oxfordshire protest group is to deliver thousands of letters campaigning against a proposed asylum centre.

The Bicester Action Group says the letter will be sent to 10,000 homes in the area, setting out their objections to the centre.

The action comes as Prime Minister Tony Blair attends a Summit of European Ministers in Spain.

Delegates will be discussing a possible European policy on immigration and asylum.

We are going to be guinea pigs and it's crisis management

Bicester Action Group

The Bicester group has already delivered letters around Arncott and Piddington.

It wants residents to add their own comments, sign the letter and send it back to Cherwell District Council.

They hope that if enough people object, the council will reject the plans.

The group say it is time the issues of immigration and asylum were fully discussed in Europe and welcomed the debate in Spain.

Action group spokeswoman Dionne Arrowsmith said: "We don't want a big centre being built in a rural location. It's not the answer to the problem.

"We should be looking at smaller centres in urban areas.

"The government has stated this is a trial which concerns us.

They can't even tell us how long the trial process will take or how they are measuring it's success or failure.

"We are going to be guinea pigs and it's crisis management."