THEY were determined to make their presence felt - despite being denied a face-to-face meeting with the woman who holds the fate of the their community in her hands.

Wearing their trademark yellow caps, blowing whistles and waving banners, 300 men and women made their opposition known to the proposed centre for asylum seekers as the Home Office minister responsible was driven into the former HMS Daedalus.

Beverley Hughes spent around 45 minutes touring three accommodation units, once home to hundreds of Royal Navy personnel.

But demonstrators were left disappointed as she turned down requests to meet with residents or walk through the seaside town saying she did not have enough time.

After her tour accompanied by Gosport council leader Shaun Cully, Fareham council's deputy leader Arthur Mandry and Gosport MP Peter Viggers, she broke her silence and spent ten minutes doing media interviews.

Full story and more pictures on pages 16 and 17 of tonight's Daily Echo.