PLANS to launch a night shelter for failed asylum seekers in Kirkheaton have been abandoned.

The decision was taken by church leaders and a charity after hundreds of angry residents voiced their opposition.

More than 200 people descended on a public meeting to debate the idea of offering a refuge to between four and 10 homeless asylum seekers in an abandoned church building.

But the meeting was left in chaos after members of the crowd began to heckle chairman Clr Peter McBride and shout their opposition to the idea before any proposal was put forward.

Kirkheaton Parish Church vicar Rev Richard Steel was also shouted down as he tried to explain the proposal and calm the hostile audience.

Asylum experts Dinah Beckett from the National Refugee Council and Lucy Lucy from Assure (Asylum Seekers’ Support and Response) were also repeatedly interrupted by shouting from the floor as they attempted to explain asylum issues.

Local resident and chief opponent of the plan, Charles Wilkinson, was loudly cheered when he attempted to calm the noisy crowd.

But moments later the meeting descended into chaos again after Mr Wilkinson had the microphone taken from him by Clr McBride while he was still speaking.

Mrs Lucy said she was extremely disappointed that the meeting had been such a shambles and said she thought it had been infiltrated by elements from the far right.

She said: “The whole thing was a mess but quite a few of those people weren’t people that we recognised.

“I think the meeting might have been infiltrated by the right wing elements.

“We think there’s an English Defence League rally in Dewsbury soon and I think possibly some of them were there.

“We had 60 to 70 people who were very supportive but they were the quiet ones who wanted to have a proper meeting.

“I’m really disappointed that the bully boys have been allowed to take over.

“A lot of people had come into the room with their minds already made up and they were just going to shout whatever anyone said down and make their voices heard.

“I brought two asylum seekers from Sheffield with me but they were too afraid to speak. It was very brave of them to agree to come anyway.”

Mrs Lucy said the plan had now definitely been abandoned but after the meeting, a lot of people had come forward and offered their services as host families.

Mr Steel said he had never experienced such a heated meeting.

He said: “I knew it was going to be difficult, my hope was we could address some of their concerns.

“I don’t think it was a completely unrealistic plan but now it’s clear it’s certainly not suitable.

“We will continue to work with Assure but in a range of different ways.

“I hope on reflection people will go away and listen to what we said.”

Mr Wilkinson, who co-ordinated a petition against the plan, said villagers would be “highly delighted” to hear the plan was off.

He added: “I have had in the past in my house people from all nations but they have been legal people who have paid a fare and used a passport.

“It’s a sad state of affairs and I’m sure there are genuine people about in Huddersfield.

“But if the people of the village do not want them housed in a village hall that is not fit for purpose then I think that’s fine”.