ABOUT 300 asylum centre protestors gathered at the former RAF airfield at Throckmorton on Sunday to tie ribbons on the security perimeter fence.

It was far short of the near 1,000 residents who arrived at the last demonstration, but organisers said the meeting was called at short notice.

Coun Malcolm Argyle said: "Hundreds more people said they would have like to have attended but because of safety concerns about people having to cross a road, the plan had been to limit numbers."

A placard by Peter Charlesworth from neighbouring Bishampton underlined many of the contentious issues. It drew attention to the neighbouring landfill site, the mass burial site for 130,000 animals, and an intensive chicken farm, and the notice posed the question "Blair would you like your children to live here." Mr Charlesworth said: "It's very unfair on the asylum seekers. His wife Susie said: "I wouldn't let my dog loose on that land."

Debbie Gregg from Throckmorton turned up on horseback dressed in black mourning attire.

She said: "I am mourning the imminent death of our community." Her mother, Angie Gregg said: "I am worried we've got a blind Home Secretary and a deaf Prime Minister."

MP Peter Luff told the protestors: "We have gathered here with sadness and hope. Sadness because the government is taking steps to house 750 asylum seekers on this site, but hope that our campaign is successful and the Home Office will change its mind."

He said he had recently been to Holland to see how its government handled the problem. Mr Luff said: "They were worrying whether it was too far to put a centre a mile away from a city. When I told them what our government was proposing to do they were shocked."

David Wright, who lives in Pinvin, was worried that the low turnout might signal complacency. He said: "We must not leave it to the few to fight our battles or we will lose."

In fact the protest at the asylum centre is stepping up. Nearly 1,000 villagers, local businesses and organisations have pledged money or time to stop the controversial super camp. So far £7,000 has been pledged towards possible legal costs of £50,000. Chair of the action group PACT, councillor Liz Tucker said: "We are prepared to fight this all the way down the line but if we go to a pubic inquiry we need more financial support."

Volunteers are also organising protests, letter writing, news letters and fund raising.

Boxes of ribbons have been placed in local shops and residents are being invited to help themselves to make their own personal protest when they pass the site.

Head of planning at Wychavon, Jack Hegarty said: "The Home Office plans and public inquiry is not now expected until September. There is still some negotiation to take place over land ownership."