AN army of defiant protestors turned out for the second mass demonstration against the planned asylum seekers centre at Throckmorton.

Three hundred determined villagers, armed with ribbons to tie to the wire fences around the Ministry of Defence land, waved placards daubed with no-entry signs and slogans warning "Not in Throckmorton" and "Please don't do this to us".

Others brandished by angry villagers read "The landfill site is next door, the cattle grave leaks, Blair - would you let your much-loved children lived here" and "Would you like to live here, Mr Blunkett?".

Bishampton Parish Council chairman and Wychavon district councillor Malcolm Argyle launched yesterday's lunchtime protest, urging villagers not to give up hope.

He was joined by Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff, who won roars of support when he told the crowd he believed the day would be theirs.

As the crowds tied their ribbons and placards to the fence, angry villagers hit out at the Government's "undemocratic" plans.

"I'm a firm believer in democracy," said 59-year-old Maurice Hayes, of Lower Moor. "Government for the people, by the people. What we've got here is the Government for themselves against the people.

"We knew about the landfill site, the burial site was dumped on us in a national emergency, but now this.

"This is my retirement. Services in Wychavon are already inadequate and I'm of that age now where I'm looking to be supported by the Government, not betrayed."

Protestor Jill Mustard, who brou-ght Beth, aged two, and Alasdair, seven, with her, considered rumours of a Government conspiracy.

"We're a long way away from it yet, but we're a rural area with a Tory MP - I still think there's something in that," said Mrs Mustard, of Pinvin.

"I just don't know if we can win, but we've got to try."

Mum Helen Robins, also of Pinvin, spoke of her fears for her daughter Georgie.

"Ministers just plucked this site out of the air," she said.

"They've got to see how rural it is. Although the plan is to have some educational provision at the centre, there'll come a time where they'll have to be educated in local schools."

Bishampton mum-of-two Sharon Yates said: "We're going to be inundated. There's going to be a lot of strangers about and we've got children to consider.

"But for all those who think we're playing the race card, we're not - the asylum issue has got to be resolved, but this isn't the place for it."