THIS is the site where the Government plans to house 750 asylum seekers.

The news that the Home Office has officially named the former RAF airfield at Throckmorton as a preferred centre has infuriated villagers.

PACT - the action group formed to fight proposals for the asylum centre - has declared 'war' on the Home Office.

On Sunday at 12noon they plan to stage a mass demonstration near the proposed centre -- now being planned on the west of QinetiQ's land nearer Tilesford.

Chairmen for the four parishes concerned, Bishampton and Throckmorton, Pinvin, Wyre Piddle and Hill and Moor, met together over the weekend to start planning a fighting strategy.

Wychavon district councillor, Malcolm Argyle, from Bishampton, said: "We are training all our guns on the Home Office and planning a strategy for attack.

"We will be inviting professional people to join us, and contacting other professional bodies for help and advice at a public inquiry."

He said a fighting fund would be set up, possibly from parish funds, but the public may be asked to pledge further donations if necessary. He added: "We will be doing everything we can possibly think of to stop an asylum centre being built in the middle of the countryside."

Chairman of Wyre Piddle parish council, Gary Robinson said: "This is nothing at all to do with Nimbyism. We have had our fill with the massive tip and the 130,000 animal burial site. Even the Refugee Council is against such a large number of asylum seekers dumped in an isolated spot."

County and district councillor Liz Tucker said: "It is outrageous that out of the whole of the country this Government has chosen Throckmorton yet again to solve its problems."

Wychavon District Council's leader, Malcolm Meikle said: "We remain extremely concerned about the consequences which this decision will have on the site and surrounding local villages."

Head of planning for Wychavon, Jack Hegarty said he had been allowed to see detailed plans fleetingly, but they were expected to be formally submitted by Home Office officials in July.

PACT has provisionally booked a public meeting at Evesham High School on June 14, to pass on all the latest information to everyone concerned.