The Bicester Action Group said 200 people attended the vigil

The Bicester Action group were joined by local MP Tony Baldry for the protest held on Friday night.

The group wants to stop the planned complex for 750 asylum seekers being built on former Ministry of Defence land between Arncott and Piddington.

An appeal against the plan was thrown out by the High Court in March.

Mr Justice Collins said Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was right to grant planning permission for the complex, despite a public inquiry finding against it.

Cherwell District Council now hopes to now take the case to the Court of Appeal.

We are demonstrating at a government that seeks to overturn a democratic process Sue Baxter Bicester Action Group

Many residents are unhappy at plans to develop the centre for up to 400 single men, 50 single women and 300 family members while they wait to find out if they are allowed to stay in the UK.

The centre is to have its own school and health facilities and asylum seekers will be able to come and go freely.

Sue Baxter, of the Bicester Action Group, told the BBC: "Number one, we are demonstrating people's shared concerns at a government that seeks to overturn a democratic process.

"Number two, we want to emphasise the continued solidarity of feeling against these accommodation centres."

She added: "The biggest problem here isn't the people coming in, it is the length of time processing takes and the way this government handles the people while they are awaiting processing."

Protesters are meeting at the site's main gate at 2030 BST on Friday, where they will also be handing out coupons for supporters to fill in and post to Tony Blair calling on him to scrap the plans.

At the time of the High Court ruling, Immigration Minister Des Browne invited people living nearby to co-operate with the new centre's development.

He said: "The centre will be largely self-sufficient, with health and education facilities on site, and should not be seen as being detrimental to the local community.

"I hope that the local community will work with us as we develop our plans in Bicester."