OPPOSITION is growing to plans to house asylum seekers in a disused nursing home in a former pit village.

People at Meadowfield, near Durham City, are against proposals to convert the Appletree Nursing Home, in Frederick Street North, into a short-term hostel for 60 refugees.

They are drawing up a campaign against the plans, which must be given approval by Durham City Council.

Residents are worried about the hostel's proximity to homes and fear an increase in crime and vandalism and a drop in house prices.

One pensioner, who asked not to be named, said: "It is diabolical it should be here. People have been going around getting petitions up."

John Angus, architect for Gateshead-based G and J Houghton, which is behind the scheme, said the hostel would be mainly for single people.

"These units are self-contained in that residents are provided with a full meal service, laundry and cleaning service.

"If it is appropriate, there is a room that will be set aside where they can carry out their own religious ceremonies.

"There will be space where the statutory agencies can interview people. If they are to travel from the hostel a minibus will be provided.''

Up to ten people would be on duty, and the firm would sign an agreement preventing the hostel housing drug addicts or sex offenders, in future.

He said asylum seekers "are perfectly normal people who are here until their applications can be processed, and I don't see why they should not be treated like anybody else.''

Residents met last night to express their concerns to councillors and officials.