A protest saw dozens out on the street amid controversial plans for a care home to be turned into a centre for asylum seekers.

Kent County Council (KCC) is proposing to house 50 people aged 16 and 17 in Ocean Heights Residential Home, Seaside Avenue, Minster, Sheppey.

In a letter sent to residents, the authority says work on the care home will start “very soon” with the youngsters moving in as early as May.

However, the decision has caused fury among many.

A protest took place on Saturday where around 80 people turned up at Minster Leas to peacefully protest.

Four people, including resident Fiona Mowatt, of Southsea Avenue, called the meeting.

She says it was carried out as Ocean Heights was established to be a care home for the elderly.

Ms Mowatt says the weekend’s demonstration was to raise awareness of residents’ needs on Sheppey needing to be “prioritised first and foremost”.

The backlash to the decision led members of Minster Parish Council to call an “extraordinary meeting” about the situation on Thursday.

Due to take place at 7pm at Friendship House in Love Lane, the public meeting has since been cancelled.

A statement released at midday read: “Unfortunately, the planned meeting to look at a response to the KCC decision to use Ocean Heights has been cancelled.

“[This is] due to safety concerns and not having an adequate venue.

“I'm sure we can still do a response to KCC from the parish, but will need to look at our rules to see how this is best achieved.

“We are sad this is the outcome, however, KCC has reassured us there will be a stakeholder meeting at an undisclosed time and location [where] there is the potential for questions to be asked.”

A 'Say No' Facebook page set up at the weekend has already attracted more than 4,500 members, while a separate petition has been signed by more than 3,500 wishing to halt the plans.

MP Gordon Henderson says he is “extremely angry” to learn of the plans after questioning the Home Office following “speculation”.

He said: “While I understand the council must follow the instructions of the High Court judgement and that asylum-seeking children must be properly cared for, I do not believe Ocean Heights should be used for this purpose.

“I would like to assure my constituents that I will fiercely oppose this decision.”

The proposals come just weeks after KCC announced it was to shut Blackburn Lodge care home in Sheerness, despite protests objecting to that decision too.

The council says its current two reception centres which provide accommodation and care for children “cannot sustainably cope with increased demand”.

A High Court ruling in July said KCC must take every possible step to increase its capacity to accommodate and look after all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UAS).

A spokesperson said: “A total of nine properties have been identified across Kent as suitable for use as new UAS children reception centres, including the currently empty Ocean Heights property on Sheppey.

“Ring-fenced central government funding will be provided to KCC to acquire and bring online appropriate accommodation to meet Ofsted regulations.

“The ongoing management of this additional accommodation will be funded by the Home Office and will not present an additional unfair burden on Kent taxpayers.”