A tiny village has voted overwhelmingly to become an independent state in a symbolic "referendum". The people of Piddington in Oxfordshire voted to secede from the UK after the Government announced plans to house 1,256 male asylum seekers in a nearby former military base.

Dubbed the "Battle for Britain", the referendum saw 285 villagers backing "independence", with a turnout of around 92 percent. Only 26 residents voted against the motion, with one spoiled ballot.

The result was announced by a returning officer as dozens of journalists and residents gathered outside the village hall on Wednesday morning. A pennat reading "Battle of Britain 2026" hung outside the hall, alongside another commemorating the date of the World War II military campaign on September 15, 1940.

Herbert Owen, known in the village as Herbie, previously insisted the referendum "isn't just about Piddington". Having cast his vote, Mr Owen told the Press Association: "It means everything our grandparents, our parents fought for – today is the Battle of Britain.

"This isn't just about Piddington, this is about our whole country. This Government is destabilising our country.

"Wherever they put these people, in camps, in HMOs, or whatever, they're ruining people's lives."

Mr Owen, 76, described Piddington — home to roughly 350 residents — as a "wonderful little village", which has changed little since he first settled there 33 years ago. Piddington has been inundated with media representatives covering the ballot, with scores of journalists gathering in the village hall within the otherwise tranquil settlement.

Mr Owen said: "We need the media to support us. We've got more publications and more TV than any marches, riots.

"But if the Government doesn't do something, I'm afraid for the country. I don't know what's going to happen. I feel for the country, for the people."

Mr Owen's wife, Jennifer, told PA she believed residents' worries have been disregarded by the Government, which initially failed to put the proposals forward for public consultation.

"It's like we're nobody. The village is nobody, according to the Government," she said.

The boundary of the proposed location adjoins the tree line of a village green in Piddington, which is owned by the parish council and features children's play equipment and a fitness trail.

Mrs Owen expressed concerns that the location was inappropriate and raised worries about the wellbeing of youngsters and dog walkers who frequent the space.

She said: "I'm an old-age pensioner, but I fear for the women and the children in the village.

"They won't be safe to go out in the village, not on their own, they'll have to have their husbands with them.

"It will wreck children's lifestyle, their livelihoods."

Mrs Owen noted that most residents in Piddington are acquainted with each other and chat when they're out and about, or while visiting the occasional pop-up bar in the village hall. She claimed the site would "change our lives forever" should it receive the green light.

When asked how it felt to cast her ballot in the symbolic vote, Mrs Owen said: "Bit of sense of power.

"We can't actually leave the United Kingdom, but it just brings things out in the open more for the country as a whole.

"All the parish councils in the country should do the same thing."

Parish councillor Mike Nixon highlighted that the proposed site lacks pedestrian access, with the Government suggesting asylum seekers be issued high-visibility jackets for safety while navigating a busy road.

He told PA: "The nearest path is about a mile and a quarter away, down a very busy road that's unlit.

"Their (the Government's) own document says it's not recommended that pedestrian access is used, so they're proposing that residents would use the shuttle bus service from the site.

"And to further discourage them, they're suggesting that should they walk, they would be issued high-vis jackets, and that's the only mitigation for the residents' safety.

"The road itself, the B4011, is a busy road, 50-mile-an-hour speed limit, but vehicles will regularly go in excess of that, so it is likely that there would be significant risk of road traffic collisions, injury, or even death, should the plan go ahead."

Mr Nixon further noted that the proposed site was susceptible to surface water flooding, while also suffering from an inadequate foul water drainage system and insufficient power supply. He added: "The site itself is wholly inadequate in terms of its infrastructure – so insufficient power, not enough water, no sewerage, prone to flooding.

"Apart from that, it sounds pretty good."

Within the travel plan lodged as part of the Government's proposals, the site is characterised as having "limited" pedestrian access, with travel on foot "not recommended".

Cycling and public transport options may be made available, the document added. Rupert Lowe MP, leader of the Restore Britain party, addressed members of the media outside the hall on Tuesday evening, while residents congregated at a parish council meeting.

He said: "I think what they're doing is to be to be lauded, I think if we're going to stop this, the people have to rise up and say they've had enough, and they're not going to put up with this."

When questioned about his party's alternative, Mr Lowe said, "They should be deported immediately", adding: "Worst case, we take them to an island offshore, build a tented camp, put them in there until they decide they want to go home."

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "The Government is closing every asylum hotel, saving taxpayers over £1 billion on asylum support since the election.

"We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, moving asylum seekers into alternative accommodation, including former military sites which are designed to be self-contained to reduce impact on the local community.

"As part of the process, we engage with local authorities and police forces to ensure the safety and security of those in the surrounding area."

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