BURNLEY MP Peter Pike today joined local businesses and residents in the fight against plans to turn a farm into an asylum seekers detention centre or open prison.

Mr Pike has written to Burnley Borough Council to formally raise his concerns over the proposals for Old Hall Farm, Stoneyholme, Burnley.

Surveyor Paul Dew, 49, who owns land behind the farm, has submitted an application to the authority to turn it into a category C style open prison or detention centre.

He said the plans were at an early stage and would be developed further if the borough council was to grant initial permission for the change of use.

Mr Dew said the development would mean a massive boost in terms of job creation and regeneration for the Stoneyholme area and provide a purpose-built detention centre for Burnley, currently without its own prison. But Mr Pike said: "I object most strongly to this application. Such a proposal is not acceptable and would be a most undesirable development."

The planning department at Burnley Borough Council has also received letters from businesses in the area raising concerns about the plans, while residents are also against the idea.

The owners of Old Hall Farm have already vowed the plans would never get off the ground. Terence and Yvonne Thorn have lived at the farm, off Oswald Street, for ten years and have stressed they will not sell their home.

Mr Thorn is to organise a petition against the application in a bid to ensure permission isn't granted.

When the plans were announced he said: "We are the owners of the farm and Mr Drew just owns some land at the back of our property. We have been to the planning department and looked at the project.

"Anyone can apply for planning permission for any building if they want to pay for it but he won't get anywhere with it.

"We will not sell him the property. He has suggested it but we said no.

"The general feeling around here is that no-one wants a prison or detention centre and we will definitely oppose the idea.

"Mr Dew has put planning applications in before, one for a mosque, and hasn't got anywhere with them. He's even asked me to buy his land."

Mr Dew was today unavailable for comment.