500 asylum seekers to be housed on MoD land in Hampshire

Locals have reacted with 'horror' to a proposal to house 500 asylum seekers in portable cabins near a picturesque village near one of the south's busiest trunk roads.

The plan is for the asylum applicants to be stay in the makeshift housing on Ministry of Defence land by the A303 at Barton Stacey, Hants, while their applications are processed.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We plan to fix our broken asylum system to make it firm and fair - compassionate to those fleeing oppression, persecution and tyranny but tough on those who abuse our system.

'Given pressure on the system during these unprecedented times, we have worked tirelessly with local authorities and other partners to provide asylum seekers, who would otherwise be destitute, with suitable accommodation – as we are required to do by law.

'Following a review of available government property, the MOD offered temporary use of some of its sites.

'This includes Barton Stacey and we are engaging with leaders and officials at Test Valley and Hampshire councils, local MPs, the police and health services, among others, as we continue to explore this as an option.'