A warning that Banbury could suffer the knock-on effects of a centre for asylum seekers has come days after Cherwell District Council failed in its bid to prevent the refugee camp being opened near Bicester.

Kieron Mallon, a member of Banbury Town, Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County councils, said many Banbury people assumed the camp would not affect them.

He said: "Bicester doesn't even have a cinema. Banbury is the nearest town with reasonable facilities, and if three or four coach loads of refugees are dropped off here, particularly at weekends, it doesn't take a lot of imagination to know what will happen."

He also said the centre would put more pressure on health services. Mr Mallon also fears that asylum seekers who have their applications approved could be added to council housing waiting lists.

He said: "I want an assurance that extra resources will be available so that the centre will not be to the detriment of local services."

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