A small crowd gathered at Castletown beach on Portland to voice their anger at plans to house 500 asylum seekers on a barge at Portland Port.

Poor weather kept many away but around 20 protestors arrived with placards and spoke about their concerns about the plans.

It is the second protest organised by a group who are against the barge, following a picnic protest on June 3.

Dorset Echo: Protestors brought placards and voiced their concerns about the barge plansProtestors brought placards and voiced their concerns about the barge plans (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Many residents were angry after reports that London and Birkenhead had rejected plans for barges to be hosted at ports in the areas.

Portland resident Beverley Fowler said: "How did they stop that barge? If we can do what they did to stop that barge going there, there is every chance we can stop it.

"I just think it is the wrong place, there must be so many other places for this barge to go. Also for the people that are on it, I can't imagine what it would be like to live on a barge with 499 other people.

Dorset Echo: Portland resident Beverley FowlerPortland resident Beverley Fowler (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Another resident said: "I live five minutes away from Portland Port and I am completely opposed to the barge.

"It goes far beyond who the residents are and the fact they are 500 single males who have no income, cannot work, have no family or loved ones, if you put 500 men from Liverpool, London or Syria on that barge you will still have problems because of a pressure cooker environment.

"If it were families I think people would be a lot more welcoming.

"Most of us struggle to get a doctor's appointment, it takes about 5 weeks, we have large-scale deprivation and low social mobility, how are we expected to cope?"

Dorset Echo: Protestors gathered at Castletown BeachProtestors gathered at Castletown Beach (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Many of the residents who attended the protest spoke about their struggle to get a doctor's appointment after it was revealed that residents of the barge will be entitled to see a GP in Weymouth or Portland if they fall ill.

Resident Paula Lile said: "It is five weeks for a doctor's appointment already, what is it going to be like? A lot of elderly people are scared about getting appointments

Organiser Alex Bailey said: "Unfortunately the weather has not been as good as our last protest, but there are people here who are again saying no to the barge."