REPORTS that more asylum seekers could be based at the proposed Throckmorton asylum centre than originally proposed have met with a critical reaction from protestors.

Home Office minister Angela Eagle last week confirmed that if Throckmorton was chosen there might be more than 750 asylum seekers based there.

District councillor Malcolm Argyle said the increased numbers would be due to the length of time it took to deal with the asylum seekers' cases

"The Government is now realising that 750 is optimistic. They can see it is taking far too long to process people and we were aware of that right from the word go. You almost feel as though you have been hoodwinked."

He added: "If you are going to have greater numbers, you have got to have the infrastructure to cope with them which just isn't here."

Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said: "It seems more and more that they are trying to dump a problem on remote rural areas, rather than solve a problem we all know needs to be addressed."

West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer has also criticised government responses to his questions asking about extra funding needed for police and fire stations, transport and housing if the centre was built.

Angela Eagle responded by saying: "In making final decisions on preferred sites, we will take all the relevant factors into account, including those to which the Member refers.."

Sir Michael said: "The answers I have received to my Parliamentary questions indicate that ministers have not even started to think about this. It would be greatly resented in Pershore and the surrounding villages if these resources had to be paid for locally or placed additional demands on existing facilities."