TWO councils which object to Home Office plans for housing asylum-seekers on local redundant RAF bases will continue to fight against the plans in court, it was revealed today.

West Lindsey District Council lost the first round of a High Court fight on Thursday over proposals for land at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

And Braintree District Council, in Essex, recently lost a similar High Court fight over plans for Wethersfield Airfield.

West Lindsey council said that its leaders will review legal options while Braintree said it aims to take its case to the Court of Appeal.

Both former bases are on land owned by the Ministry of Defence.

The judge ruled against West Lindsey after lawyers asked for an interim injunction, preventing the Home Office moving “materials, equipment or people” on to land at RAF Scampton, pending a final ruling.

Mr Justice Kerr dismissed the West Lindsey’s application after considering arguments from lawyers representing the council and Home Secretary Suella Braverman at the hearing in London.

He indicated that judges would now have to consider the next stage of the litigation and decide whether the council had an arguable case and whether a trial should be held.

A barrister who led Ms Braverman’s legal team, told Mr Justice Kerr that ministers had a duty to house asylum-seekers who would otherwise be destitute.

Paul Brown KC said the number of asylum-seekers needing accommodation was at “record levels” and that the proposed use of the Scampton was permitted under town and country planning rules.

Mr Brown said asylum-seekers had been housed in hotels but there was a need to “decant” them to more suitable accommodation.