The Government's plan to house asylum seekers on a former RAF airbase has been put on hold after Braintree DC sought an injunction to stop the move.

Braintree has argued the Wethersfield Airfield is an unsuitable site to house asylum seekers because of the base's isolated location.

The local authority has also warned the scale of the proposed development could have a ‘significant impact upon the local community.'

Braintree has secured an agreement from the High Court for a full injunction to be heard next week.

The Home Office said it will not move asylum seekers onto Wethersfield Airfield until after the court hearing and will only do so if they succeed in defending their position against the injunction.

However, it began preparing the site for asylum seeker accommodation on Thursday.