Council drops asylum centre fight

The centre would become a temporary home to 750 people

A council has decided not to pursue its legal battle in the House of Lords against the government's plans for an asylum centre.

At a meeting on Wednesday, Cherwell District councillors decided their "chances of success were limited".

In October the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of plans to build a centre to house 750 asylum seekers near Bicester, in Oxfordshire.

Former Ministry of Defence land between Arncott and Piddington is to be used.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott overruled an independent inquiry when he approved proposals for the centre.

At its meeting the council also said it believes pursuing the legal fight against the plan would be "expensive".

The centre will house 400 single men, 50 single women and 300 family members.