Blair hits out at village attitude

In a televised Press conference, the Prime Minister said he understood concerns about the proposed 750-bed accommodation centre at Throckmorton.

But he said it was the only way of tackling the country's asylum problem.

He also refuted claims by Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff and former Home Secretary Ken Clarke that violence may spill out of the centre into the local community.

"I understand why people say 'I want them anywhere else but where I am'. But unless we take these measures we cannot tackle this problem," said Mr Blair.

"We either deal with this issue or we don't deal with it.

"People can't say they want the Government to deal with this issue but resist the only possible way of dealing with it.

Essential

"People need to know we are dealing with it. The centres are essential."

The tone of Mr Blair's remarks was immediately attacked by Conservative MP Mr Luff.

"I take offence to any suggestion of 'not in my back yard syndrome' or nimbyism - and that is what the Prime Minister was implying," he said.

"When the Government has encountered complete opposition to its policy, as it has in this case, it should surely ask whether it has got it wrong.

"For the Prime Minister to say this is the only way forward is just not true.

"He should be looking at such a sensitive issue rather harder and asking more serious questions of his Home Secretary, David Blunkett."

Meanwhile, Mr Blair said he "did not agree" with the concerns about asylum seekers staying at the centre growing bored and becoming involved in violence.

Mr Luff had warned: "We know of the many outbreaks of violence in fields in the Vale of Evesham as pickers and packers from different ethnic backgrounds come in to conflict.

"How much worse it will be when they are compelled not to work a few hours in an open field, but to spend six months or so living together in the most stressful conditions."