THE founder of a refugee support group in Lee-on-the-Solent has said Daedalus is the wrong place to house 400 male asylum seekers.

Gordon Matthews made the admission at the first public meeting of NeighbourLee yesterday evening.

"There are more similarities between us and the Daedalus Action Group than people like to think," said the 48-year-old full-time carer.

"I personally don't think it's the best place for a centre of this size.

"It would be more appropriate for asylum seekers to be dispersed in small groups across the area."

Mr Matthews, of Grove Road, Lee-on-the-Solent, admitted "one or two" of the group's members did think the MoD site was suitable.

However he insisted NeighbourLee's priority was to ensure asylum seekers were treated in a compassionate way.

He accused both DAG and Gosport MP Peter Viggers of using inflammatory language in the asylum seekers debate.

"People might be puzzled because we are not campaigning in favour of the accommodation centre as such.

"What unites us is our dismay at the hostility shown towards asylum seekers."

Dozens of men, women and teenagers packed into St John's RC Church in Lee-on-the-Solent for the meeting.

Many had stayed away from the seafront marches and mass rallies that have mobilised public opinion against the asylum seekers' centre over the past six months.

Now the hundred or so people who turned out were prepared to stand up and be counted.

The three police officers on duty outside were not needed despite fears of trouble erupting.

Most Daedalus Action Group members had heeded advice from chairman John Beavis to stay away.

NeighbourLee had four stands for people to sign up to the group and find out more about the asylum process.

Father John Humphreys, who opened up his church hall, said he hoped the controversy over the centre would not create a fragmented community.

"In every Christian community there are people of different opinions. I hope it has not caused any divisions.

"Whether accommodation centres are the right response remains an open issue.

"Should asylum seekers arrive we should help them with any support we can give."

Ward councillor Graham Burgess said: "NeighbourLee don't seem to have a clear strategy. Even their leader said Daedalus is the wrong place."

DAG chairman John Beavis said he was pleased the meeting had passed off peacefully.