Protesters plan to intensify their campaign after the Home Office confirmed it wanted to build a centre for 750 asylum seekers in Oxfordshire.Dionne Arrowsmith and Eric Sheppard from the action group

MP Tony Baldry said he would petition the High Court if a public inquiry was not held into the proposal to open the centre on Ministry of Defence land outside Bicester.

Home Secretary David Blunkett announced yesterday that one of the three chosen sites would be 25 acres at Bicester Defence Storage and Distribution Centre on the Bicester-Thame road.

A petition with more than 10,000 signatures against the plan was handed to the Home Office on Monday.

Mr Baldry said the Home Office would now submit a planning application to Cherwell District Council and there would be an eight-week consultation period before it went to the council's south-area planning committee. He said: "As the Home Office proposal is against the advice of all the professionals handling asylum seekers, I would expect Cherwell councillors to object.

"I would be very surprised if the department did not call a public inquiry because of the 10,000-signature petition and the sensitivity of the issue. If a public inquiry is not held, I will call for a judicial review."

Dionne Arrowsmith, of Bicester Action Group, which has been fighting the proposal, said: "After weeks of speculation, we are relieved it is out in the open. We are going to push for a public inquiry.

"We are glad that today has happened as we have got something concrete after all these weeks, but we will still be fighting it."

The group is planning to hold a silent vigil with banners at Pingle Field in Oxford Road, Bicester, on Saturday from 4pm. Mr Baldry will attend. The protesters hope to unite with similar groups in Pershore, Worcestershire, and West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, where centres are also planned, starting a campaign under the slogan 'Not in our rural communities'.

The Rev Robert Dando, of Orchard Baptist Fellowship, who has criticised opponents of the centre, said: "There are obviously still many practical details to be worked out. But perhaps if we had a change of heart, as a town, we would see these people not as a threat, but as people who have something to contribute to our community."

Tony Tallents, chairman of Piddington Parish Council, said he was not totally surprised that Bicester had been chosen. He said: "I think the Government is ill-advised to put it here. I think the land was available, but they haven't thought through where it is and the impact on the area and the asylum seekers."

Bicester's new mayor, Diana Edwards, said: "I am very disappointed with the decision, primarily the lack of consultation with local people, who have actively sought answers."

She is also concerned about the impact of 750 people on small communities.