NEWS that Government plans for an asylum seekers' centre at Throckmorton could be scuppered by wild birds has been welcomed by the chairman of the group protesting against the proposed centre.

Liz Tucker, who chairs PACT - Protest at the Asylum Centre at Throckmorton, said the potential stumbling block for the proposals, reflected the fact that the former airfield site earmarked was known for hosting a variety of wildlife.

"The airfield has been an undisturbed haven for wildlife for 50-plus years so it comes as no surprise," she explained.

"It's one of the aspects that makes it so important the environmental impact assessment is carried out as soon as possible.

Reports claim the presence at Throckmorton of barn owls and skylarks, which are protected species under the European Bird Directive, could put another barrier in the way of the asylum centre, which has sparked a storm of protest among nearby residents.

Mid Worcestershire MP, Peter Luff said the UK Government could find itself in the European Court if the birds were threatened by development.

He added: "I have discussed this with the local MEP, Philip Bushill-Matthews, who serves on the environment committee of the European Parliament, and he confirms this is a real possibility.

"But it's not just skylarks and barn owls. A constituent who has monitored wildlife at the site for 20 years tells me the site is also home to breeding pairs of corn bunting, tree sparrow, curlew, meadow pipit and kestrels.

"It is visited by whinchats, stonechats, wheatears, red backed shrike, honey buzzards, long eared owls, short eared owls and black redstart.

"There are many butterflies, including large colonies of marbled white, brown argus, common blue and migrant clouded yellows. Important plant life includes bee orchids and pyramidial orchids.

"We have always known that building a huge asylum centre on this site would be bad for the people who would be forced to live there and bad for the people who already live around it.

"Now we know it would be bad for the things that already live there.