Hundreds protest against plans to house 600 lone male asylum seekers in army barracks near their homes

Hundreds of angry residents took to the streets to protest government plans to move hundreds of lonely male refugees to an army training camp.

The Home Office plans to transfer nearly 600 migrants to a military facility in Crowborough, East Sussex, by the end of next month – a move locals say has been imposed with almost no consultation on the community.

The growing anger comes after it was revealed that students at the camp may be moved away to make room for arrivals.

Hundreds of protesters showed up this morning; many were clad in British flags and carrying banners; this marked their third consecutive weekend of showings at a time when frustration had reached a boiling point.

Six hundred marchers today wore numbered bibs to highlight the number of refugees expected to be housed in the area next week.

Crowborough is one of two places designated to receive arrivals by small boats with minimal warning; their families, councilors and campaigners are scrambling for answers.

The Home Office plans to transfer nearly 600 migrants to a military facility in Crowborough, East Sussex, by the end of next month

Residents say the proposal is particularly worrying in light of reports that at least 200 people living in asylum hotels have been charged with criminal offenses

UKIP Leader Nick Teconi joined protesters at Crowborough Army Camp today wearing numbers indicating the number of refugees expected.

A sign during an anti-immigration protest near Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex

Residents say the proposal is particularly worrying in light of reports that by August this year at least 200 people living in asylum hotels had been charged with criminal offences, including sexual assaults.

Adult student trainers are considering suspending all training after immigrants move into the area and warn they cannot guarantee young people’s safety on site.

Senior instructors expressed deep concern about the mixing of youth platoons with the influx of adult men and said the risks remained unresolved.

In recent days, large fences have been erected around the perimeter and security guards with dogs have been seen patrolling the area as preparations continue for the arrival of more than 500 refugees.

Parents and student volunteers, none of whom had received formal training, reportedly took it upon themselves to conduct ‘counter patrols’ near passenger pick-up and drop-off times to monitor possible risks.

Crowborough Shield, a residents group opposing the plans, warned that students would be ‘displaced with no alternative place offered’.

The Ministry of Defense told the Telegraph that it ‘takes the safety and welfare of all students extremely seriously and continues to work with the Home Office to assess the potential impact that housing asylum seekers on military bases could have on our Student Forces.

Crowborough locals were seen carrying banners with messages such as ‘stop rewarding, start deporting’.

Crowborough has a population of around 22,000 and locals believe their way of life could be threatened by refugees.

Crowborough has a population of around 22,000 and locals believe their way of life could be threatened by refugees

People take part in a protest against the housing of refugees in an army training camp

Six hundred marchers today wore numbered bibs to highlight the number of refugees expected to be housed in the area next week

Crowds on the village green began to thin as UKIP leader Nick Tenconi began speaking

Organizers distributed 600 numbered cards to marchers.

Penny Saunders, 58, an office manager, bore the number 600.

He said: ‘I was born and raised in Crowborough. I’ve never hiked before but I’m all for it. It will make a great contribution to our society.

‘I’ve already seen catastrophic changes. Our local services cannot cope as it is. I have seen crime increase and it will only get worse.

‘It’s about the community and the fact that these guys are going to be undocumented. It’s about security. Penny said the reason people want to live here is because of the community and safety, and it’s not about racism.

Adam, who refrained from giving his last name, came first.

The 43-year-old company director, from Crowborough, said: ‘I wanted to stand up to what was being imposed on our community.

‘I want to protect my mother, my wife and my daughter. We’ll be here until we don’t need to come anymore.’

The two marches, which started in Crowborough under pouring rain, met in the city center and headed towards the rally.

Organizers estimate up to 3,000 people braved the pouring rain.

The crowds on the village green began to thin as UKIP leader Nick Tenconi began speaking.

He told the crowd that his hometown of Eastbourne was now full of ‘squatter hotels’ whose owners took 30 pieces of silver from the Home Office to house immigrants.

‘We do not want our daughters and wives to be raped and killed,’ he said.

Kim Bailey, chief executive of campaign group Crowborough Shield, said: ‘We never wanted this to become a political campaign. This is still about Crowborough.’

Kim Bailey, chief executive of campaign group Crowborough Shield, said: ‘Many people reported that police raised rape alarms in the town yesterday.

‘If ‘everything is safe, legal and compliant’, why would women in a quiet little town like Crowborough need rape alarms?’

A Sussex Police spokesman said officers were in the town for an event unrelated to the army camp.

‘The local neighborhood policing team attended a community event in Crowborough as part of routine crime prevention and response work.

‘Our officers regularly attend similar community events across Sussex providing crime prevention advice,’ a spokesman said.

Security guards began patrolling the army camp on the Crowborough border with dogs this week.

The windows of the army camp on the edge of the Sussex town were smashed.

Campaign organizers told marchers they were raising money to provide CCTV cameras to any business in the town that wanted them.

Marchers chanted You’re Going Home accompanied by the Three Lions as they took to the streets of Crowborough for the third weekend.

Another march and rally is planned for next weekend.