Dozens of people living near a former prison which could be used to house asylum seekers have held a protest.

A crowd of around 150 people gathered opposite town hall in Amherst Road, Bexhill, yesterday evening from around 6.30pm.

There are plans to bring up to 1,200 asylum seekers to Northeye, a former military base and prison, by the end of the year.

Protesters brought flags and posters which read “no to Northeye” as speeches sounded out over a speaker system.

The Argus: Protesters with a 'No to Northeye' posterProtesters with a 'No to Northeye' poster (Image: Sy Martin)

There were also a small amount of counter-protesters, with some holding signs saying “don't blame refugees".

One woman, who runs an estate agent in the Bexhill area but wished to remain anonymous, said people are “scared of the unknown”.

She said: “We’re not happy with it because Bexhill is a small town, the forgotten town. It is an unspoilt place and that’s the way we want it. We have a lot of elderly people here, people come in to my office because they’re scared of the decision.

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“We don’t know who the asylum seekers are, where they have come from, what their background is, they could be anyone. It’s not being racist, it’s the unknowing.

“It will affect the housing market, I have had people from London pull out of buying houses. Bexhill is a small place and to have that amount of people is a concern.

“We want more clarity from the government, they won’t give it. People need to stand up and have a voice.

The Argus: Counter protesters also attendedCounter protesters also attended (Image: Sy Martin)

“The government can’t even look after our own, the war veterans and the homeless.”

There are also concerns that the site is “riddled with asbestos” and not safe for people to be housed.

The Home Office has found the material in two of 77 boreholes drilled at Northeye.

The Argus: A large crowd gathered outside Bexhill Town HallA large crowd gathered outside Bexhill Town Hall (Image: Sy Martin)

Huw Merriman, Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle, said that senior Home Office officials confirmed asbestos being present at the site during a meeting last week.

Brian Setchfield, who lives near Northeye, said the whole site needs to be tested for asbestos.

He added that he was “not happy for anybody to be put in there” because of the health risks.