Campaigners living near Bicester in Oxfordshire believe the government has broken a pledge - to not build the asylum centre if the planning inspector rejected the proposal.

Find out what local campaigners had to say about it...

The Deputy Prime Minister's office has confirmed that a proposed accommodation centre for asylum seekers near Bicester will be built.

The news comes after a public inquiry into the scheme.

The inquiry began at the end of last year and heard evidence from local people who were opposed to the centre.

The inspector's report recommended that the 750 strong unit between Arncott and Piddington should be turned down - but this has since been overturned by Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, who has granted planning permission for the scheme to go ahead.

The site between the villages of Arncott and Piddington near Bicester, will house up to 400 single men, 50 single women and 300 family members while their asylum applications are being processed.

They will be free to leave the centre during the day, but will be expected to sleep there at night.

Home Officer Minister, Beverley Hughes said: "The Bicester Centre will be an important part of the government's work to deliver our radical asylum reforms."

"I realise members of the community have concerns about the centre, although I do not accept that an accommodation centre will be a detriment to the local area."

Locals angry about decision

Mr Prescott's decision to approve the development prompted anger among many of the area's residents.

Chris Weavers of the Bicester Action Group said to The Times newspaper: "We are very disappointed that what appeared to have been a promise made by Beverley Hughes has been reneged upon".

Dionne Arrowsmith of the Bicester Action Group said to The Times: "We're talking 400 single young men who are not allowed to work. Take 400 men of any background and stick them in the middle of nowhere and there are going to be problems."

Response from Cherwell District Council

Cherwell District Council intends to go to the High Court to challenge John Prescott's ruling that the first of the asylum accommodation centres will be built in Bicester.

George Reynolds, Executive Leader of Cherwell District Council said: "It's now in the hands of the planning council to see if there are any grounds for the judicial process."