Two local councils have won their bid to try and block new asylum centres from opening in their areas.

The Home Office announced plans earlier this year for RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire and Wethersfield Airfield in Essex to be used to house people while they awaited for a decision on asylum applications.

But West Lindsey District Council, Braintree District Council, and a local Wethersfield resident were seeking permission from the High Court to launch legal challenges against the new sites opening.

Today, the High Court ruled in their favour, allowing all three to bring their challenges to the courts, saying two of their 15 grounds for objection were valid.

Mrs Justice Thornton said: “The decision to accommodate asylum seekers on the sites may give rise to strong local opinion,” adding there may be wider questions around the welfare of the people housed there.

“Those are not, however, matters for the court,” she added.

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The government has been trying to come up with alternative accommodation for asylum seekers after it said the number of people making small boat Channel crossings had led to a hotel bill of £6m a day to house those waiting for their claims to be processed.

As well as former military bases, there are plans to house people on barges, and also reports large marquees could be used.

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Wethersfield Airfield will be able to accommodate up to 1,700 male asylum seekers for up to 180 days, while up to 1,500 will be able to be housed at RAF Scampton.

The first 50 asylum seekers were moved to Wethersfield on Wednesday.

But ministers have faced a backlash from local residents, councils and MPs who do not want the centres on their doorsteps, with multiple legal actions launched against the sites.

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