RESIDENTS living near a controversial hostel for refugees and homeless people were branded "prejudiced" after objecting to plans to expand it.

The claim came during a planning appeal lodged by the owner of the Hinton Hotel, Daphne Downes, after her plans to convert part of the site into disabled accommodation were thrown out by Fareham council.

More than a dozen residents were at the inquiry that will determine whether the appeal is upheld.

They claimed they were the victims of continual crime and antisocial behaviour inflicted by the residents of the Catisfield hostel.

The landlady of The Limes pub, Darryl Downs, said she had to clear up "binbags full of litter" and had experienced verbal abuse from residents.

Richard Frankland, on behalf of the village association, said neighbours of the hostel were unnerved by the number of times police visited the hostel.

He said: "The site is unsightly and over the years neighbours have suffered. One witness remembers when armed police were called to the hostel and refugees told to produce their papers while lined up at gunpoint."

But Stephen Bowden, solicitor for Miss Downes, challenged the validity of their complaints.

He said: "Lets get down to what this is really all about. It is about prejudice. The residents say they are able to identify the refugees but I would find it very difficult to determine the difference between an Asian homeless man from Portsmouth and an Afghan refugee.

"There seems to be a number of double standards from the council, too. They are saying that disabled accommodation is a requirement but just not here."

Fareham council argued the appeal should be thrown out based on crime and disorder considerations and the objection by local residents.

An 86-signature petition was handed into the council along with 37 letters of complaints in a bid to stop the shop units being converted into two disabled apartments.

The appeal was lodged after a council meeting last October when the application was turned down against the recommendation of planning officers.

The decision centred on crime statistics that showed offences associated with the hostel were double that compared with the rest of Fareham.

However, at yesterday's hearing Insp Diana Boyles, of Fareham police, admitted there were inconsistencies with the recording of statistics year on year.

She said that not every year had taken into account the number of missing people reported to the police and said that every crime recorded in a 100ft radius of the hostel was included in the statistics.

Mr Bowden said: "I would submit that these figures are not statistically reliable but those questions that arise from them were never asked at the time. There was a knee-jerk reaction by members who saw a handle to fit the refusal on."

The decision on whether the appeal will be upheld will be made later in the year.