HOME Office Minister Lord Rooker today provoked fury by telling a tiny Worcestershire village it had a duty to take its share of "responsibility" for housing asylum-seekers.

He said he could "understand" the concerns of residents, who have already had to put up with having a foot-and-mouth burial dump and a landfill site on their doorsteps at Throckmorton.

But said the former RAF site had a further role - housing a 750-bed accommodation centre.

"Dealing with asylum-seekers is a national issue, and it's only fair the responsibility is shared across the country and not left to London, the south East and urban areas," Lord Rooker said.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff slammed the Minister's "grossly insensitive" remarks, made as the Government confirmed a planning application would go to Wychavon District Council within a fortnight.

"He's talking about people who hardly uttered a word when faced with the horrors of a foot-and-mouth burial site," said Mr Luff. "How dare a Minister lecture them on their responsibilities and duties?"

Lord Rooker, who is expecting widespread opposition, had earlier tried to reassure residents.

He promised that, if Wychavon voted the proposals out, the final decision would rest with an independent planning inspector.

He also pledged no extra pressures would be placed on GPs, hospitals and schools, as all the facilities asylum-seekers needed would be available in the centre.

"They won't be wandering around the countryside because they'll be too busy putting their asylum claims in."

He said the majority of people staying at Throckmorton would be "young, single men who have deserted their families for economic advantage".

But Conservative MP Mr Luff responded: "I'll be pressing the Minister very hard on exactly what type of regime it will be that will keep desperate people from going outside. Frankly, I'm sceptical."

West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer, who criticised the Government for "leaking" the news, agreed.

"The view of the people is clear," he said. "They believe it would be wrong to build an asylum-seeker centre at Throckmorton. I agree and will do everything I can to support their case."

The former RAF base will serve as a pilot for the Government's plans to house asylum-seekers in special centres, rather than in the community.

If successful, up to 14 similar centres will be opened across the UK.