About 700 men, women and children took part in a silent vigil to protest against Government plans to house 750 asylum-seekers near Bicester.

Protesters stood behind a large banner which read "We want to be heard" during the one-hour event at Pingle Field, off Pingle Drive, Bicester, from 4-5pm.

The event happened as a vicar revealed she had become the target for hate mail after standing up in support of the asylum centre.

The Rev Mary Carney, of St Mary's Church in Ambrosden, wrote in her parish newsletter to ask residents to be tolerant of asylum-seekers.

But after the letter, she received hate mail and an abusive phone call.

Mrs Carney said: "I do feel that people feel railroaded and that they don't have a choice, but many of these people are coming from often tragic situations and I feel we should have some compassion and remember that they are human beings too."

Led by Bicester's MP, Tony Baldry, people stood silently for nearly an hour. Mr Baldry said the day was about sending a message to the Government that local people want to be consulted. He said: "This physical demonstration is part of the 10,000-signature petition I handed in to the House of Commons last week."

Mr Baldry claims the Government has no experience of running this type of accommodation centre.

MP John Bercow, who represents Buckingham and has handed in a 325-signature petition signed by worried residents affected by the decision, supports Mr Baldry.

He said: "It is not just our view. Organisations such as Amnesty International, The Commission for Racial Equality and Oxfam, who are reputable organisations, say sites such as this are unsuitable."