The director of the UK Border Agency has told villagers in Arncott, north Oxfordshire, he would love to have a Bullingdon Prison-style detention centre built near their homes by 2010.

Brian Pollett told 40 villagers the new centre could be built within two years, but reassured them its development was not a done deal.

Mr Pollett visited Arncott Village Hall on Saturday in a bid to allay fears about the planned facility, which would house up to 800 illegal immigrants and failed asylum seekers ahead of their deportation.

He said: "To say it is a done deal in advance I think would be wrong, (but) I would love to have it ready by 2010.

"That is subject to lots of ifs, buts and maybes."

After the meeting, Mr Pollett admitted the removal centre could house just under a quarter of the UK's foreign criminals who were awaiting deportation.

But he said the centre would be built to the same security standards as Bullingdon - and surrounded by a 5.2m-tall fence.

He also told the Oxford Mail he was encouraged by the response of people at the meeting and said he intended to submit a planning application for the centre in about six months.

But rather than being enthusiastic about the scheme, villagers were instead resigned to the centre being built.

Gwen McEwan, from Hopcraft Close, said: "I am angry, but we have got to accept it. I will not come to any more meetings because I think it is all cut and dry."

Bob Leat, chairman of Arncott Parish Council, added: "I think people are resolved to the fact there is going to be a secure centre on that site, whether it is an asylum centre or a prison.

"I would not say people are happy about it - who would be happy about the increases in traffic it is going to bring? That is their main concern after security."

The proposed location for the centre is for the same site on which the Government tried to build a controversial centre, which would have seen asylum seekers free to move about the local community.

The scheme was abandoned by the Home Office in June, 2005.

Banbury MP Tony Baldry, who opposed the earlier scheme, said: "I cannot remember a single objection made about Bullingdon Prison being built - and this is going to be built to the same standard.

"I can see no valid reason for this centre not being built."