SITTINGBOURNE town centre was brought to a standstill this morning as more than 100 residents marched in protest at plans to house asylum seekers in the town's only hotel (Helen Cockersole writes).

There was a major police presence as campaigners voiced their anger at Government plans to use the Coniston Hotel as an induction centre.

London Road and neighbouring streets were shut off for more than half an hour as protestors marched from the Forum shopping centre in the High Street to the hotel.

Campaigners, who have now collected more than 5,000 signatures, carried placards reading 'Hands off our Hotel' and 'Sittingbourne will not give in' and marched to chants of 'Save our Hotel'.

Passing motorists honked their horns in support as residents continued their protests for several hours on the pavement outside the hotel in bitter temperatures and showers.

There had been fears that the National Front or British National Party would hijack the march, but the protest passed off peacefully.

Organiser Sandra Kennett said: "The weather didn't help but those who turned up have done really well. This is not a racist thing.

"All we are concerned about is our hotel. I do think we can save it. I don't think the Government realised how strongly the people of Sittingbourne feel about it."

Hundreds more protesters were expected to take part in a demonstration outside the hotel this evening.

MEANWHILE, Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Derek Wyatt has told the Tories to "get real" over plans to keep asylum seekers in detention centres before admitting them to the country.

Mr Wyatt said: "This is crackers," after hearing Tory proposals to detain and asylum seekers in centres, possibly on ships, before allowing them into the UK.

He said the plans would require the Tories build four centres to hold around 12,500 asylum seekers in each. Mr Wyatt believes that would spark protests, challenges, court cases and a legislative minefield that would take more than six years to wade through.

"Once people work through the logic, it simply can not get through legislation," he said.

"It would cost £650 million to a party that has pledged to cut 20 per cent from public services spending. This is complete madness. Does the left hand know what the right hand is doing?"

But the Conservative borough councillor for Boughton and Courtenay, Andrew Bowles, hit back at Mr Wyatt saying that Labour would soon be adopting the proposal and claiming it as their own.

He said: "At the last election Labour was rubbishing all our policies and now they have adopted them. I have no doubt that if you keep this policy on file you will hear Mr Blair making similar announcements in the future."

Cllr Bowles did admit, though, that the Tory proposals were controversial. He said: "We are always going to get opposition but the present system does not work. Watch this space."