Campaigners are pressing for a public inquiry into the proposed building of an asylum seekers' centre on the outskirts of Bicester to be postponed.

The move came as Bicester's MP Tony Baldry instructed lawyers to investigate a judicial review over when an accommodation centre monitor is appointed.

Home Secretary David Blunkett was only able to get the controversial Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill passed in Parliament by promising to appoint an independent monitor to look at the effectiveness of the new centres and whether they harmed services for local people.

Dionne Arrowsmith, co-founder of Bicester Action Group, said: "It doesn't make financial sense to press ahead with an inquiry until a monitoring committee is decided on.

"The inquiry is going to cost enough, let alone building the place. That is such a huge waste of money if the monitoring committee decides it is not an appropriate location. I believe it is farcical to go through with the inquiry when a monitor has not been decided."

Mr Baldry said he had instructed a team of lawyers to consider what action could be taken to force the Government to appoint the independent monitor before the inquiry takes place.

The public inquiry is due to start on December 10, at Cherwell District Council's offices at Bodicote, near Banbury.