DEFIANT protestors in Sittingbourne are set to put proposals for an alternative to the Coniston Hotel for asylum seekers before the Government on Wednesday.

Mike Apps, from Homewood Avenue, is leading an army of protestors to Downing Street on Wednesday to present No 10 with its opposition to the asylum plans for the hotel.

Later they are due to meet Home Office minister Beverley Hughes.

Mr Apps said he believed the issue over whether the Coniston will be used as an asylum induction centre is far from a done deal despite the new owners, Accommodata, moving new mattresses in last week.

He said: "We don't believe this is a done deal. The Government has admitted it was done in an underhanded way and now we have an alternative site and proposal to put to them.

"I can't say any more than that right now but we will be putting it to the Government on Wednesday."

Despite his positive outlook, Mr Apps still accused Tony Blair and the Government of "dictatorial" policies and he dismissed Mr Blair's recent announcement that he would halve asylum applications by September as nothing more than spin.

Speaking at the latest protest outside the London Road hotel on Saturday, Mr Apps said: "The pressure is on Tony Blair and we are fully aware of that. This is not a racial issue but a protest at the dictatorial way the Government is trying to force this on us and the people of Sittingbourne won't have it.

"I think he (Mr Blair) is just trying to placate the English public because local elections are due soon. But it's not like years ago when the public didn't know what's going on. We do."

And Mr Apps issued a stark warning to the Government if they fail to listen to the protestors.

He added: "I have thousands of letters on my desk from all over England. We know we would probably be facing serious consequences from the public of the UK if this goes ahead.

"Everyone is watching what is happening in Sittingbourne because we are expressing what the whole country feels."