About 2,000 people, including Bicester's mayor, have signed a petition to try to stop a centre for asylum-seekers being built near the town.

Campaigners set up a table in Sheep Street asking people to sign a petition and letters to be sent to Home Secretary David Blunkett and immigration minister Lord Rooker.

Town mayor Lawrie Stratford, who signed the petition on Saturday, said: "I'm totally opposed to it, in particular the lack of local consultation."

The Government has said about 300 new jobs could be created at the site. But Cllr Stratford said: "Bicester doesn't need 300 jobs created. How we are going to man it? Labour is already short in this area. "They claim 750 people would be there at one time, but the numbers are likely to grow. Local people are concerned that 750 people would be travelling in every day and there are no amenities."

The centre would be a pilot scheme. If it was successful, the Government plans to open up to 30 more centres around the country.

Dionne Arrowsmith, one of the petition organisers, said: "The response was excellent. We are hoping by the time we get all the petitions back the figure will have doubled."

The petition will remain open until tomorrow. Shops around the town have put up posters and have a supply of petition forms. Campaigners also hope to organise a protest march in Sheep Street tomorrow, while protesters meet MP Tony Baldry and county councillor Catherine Fulljames to discuss their campaign.