Three lorries suspected to be transporting movable structures for a potential refugee centre became stalled in an Essex village for almost five hours.

Between 07:30 and 13:30 BST, the cars were unable to pass at a pinch point near Sible Hedingham.

The Home Office aims to house 1,700 adult male migrants at MDP Wethersfield, and the locals were informed that the buildings were headed there.

According to a local, it demonstrated that the location was “inappropriate” for such a venture.

One of the lorry drivers said the constructions were a proposed health clinic and office space for the refugee complex, according to Alan MacKenzie, head of The Fields Association, a group that has fought against the exploitation of rural north Essex for government developments.

They were “poking out quite some distance” from the vehicles they were on and were roughly 4.2m (13.7ft) wide, he claimed.

The drivers became aware that a choke point was approaching that they would be unable to pass.

If the route was free of parked automobiles, Mr. MacKenzie said they “might have just made it through,” but it “would be tight.”

According to him, after police instructed locals to relocate their cars, additional people began to do so in order to “make a point,” and all of the lorries were halted in Rectory Lane to “await instructions.”

They eventually turned around and left.

“It is a medieval road network full of B roads and unclassified roads which are narrow and all terrible for getting wide loads through,” Mr MacKenzie said.

“The situation has just demonstrated what local residents have been saying to the government about the road system here.

“It shows it is inappropriate trying to put a very large operation on a remote airbase, the infrastructure around here cannot support such a large asylum centre.”

The Home Office said that it will construct a facility in Wethersfield, with the first immigrants coming in this summer. They would be housed in temporary housing while awaiting a verdict on their claim.

A spokesman said: “Delivering accommodation on surplus military sites will provide cheaper and more orderly, suitable accommodation for those arriving in small boats whilst helping to reduce the use of hotels.

“We are continuing to work extremely closely with local councils, the local NHS and police services, to manage any impact and address the local communities concerns, including through substantial financial support.”

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