Ministers urged to drop plans for asylum centre at former RAF base in Essex

People living near MDP Wethersfield believe it has been earmarked to house 1,500 male asylum seekers

People in north Essex are urging ministers to abandon what they understand to be plans to accommodate 1,500 male asylum seekers at a former RAF base on their doorsteps.

The group told the Guardian it had received information from multiple sources that MDP Wethersfield had been earmarked by the Home Office for use as an asylum accommodation centre.