An action group, fighting plans to house asylum seekers near Bicester, has joined forces with protesters from Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

Now the groups plan to hold regular meetings, swap information and link websites.

Sue Baxter, of Bicester Action Group, said each group would continue to push for separate public inquiries, and fight planning issues at a local level.

If they fail to win at the inquiries, they will fight at national level for a change in Government policy.

Last month, the Government announced plans to open a centre for 750 asylum-seekers at A Site, at Bicester Defence, Storage and Distribution Centre, between Piddington and Arncott. Similar sites are planned at Throckmorton airfield, near Pershore, Worcestershire, and RAF Newton, near West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, while sites in Lincolnshire, Cardiff and Edinburgh are on a reserve list. The action groups met for the first time on Thursday at a rally in Bingham, Nottinghamshire, attended by about 1,800 people. Afterwards, members from each group, including Throckmorton MP Ken Clarke, met to discuss campaign strategies.

MPs representing the areas have already set up a committee and are planning to hold talks with the chief executives of all local councils.

Bicester Action Group is planning to hold an open meeting in early July.

Mrs Baxter said: "We have got to pull Bicester on board. What we are planning to do across the summer is hold a number of fundraising events. We need to keep it alive in people's minds."

The group estimates it will need about £60,000 to pay for legal and professional representation at a public inquiry.

Bicester Action Group is hoping to meet members of the Worcestershire Action Group within the next few weeks.