Ready in weeks, the new refugee centre in Calais

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Huge prefabricated sections of the building that will provide a base for refugees planning to sneak into Britain were being hauled into position and put together yesterday.

Refugee charities had hoped to rush through the construction of their "welcome centre" on the outskirts of Calais with as little publicity as possible.

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A wall section arrives at the site which will become a centre for refugees

The huts will provide hot showers, free meals and clothes but not, the charities insist, somewhere to sleep. However, critics warn that it will become a magnet for refugees trying to get into the UK - and represents a reversal of the decision by France to close the original Sangatte in 2002.

Foliage around the site has been chopped down, giving it almost unlimited room to expand.

The centre is only a short walk from the main ferry terminal and next to a wood nicknamed The Jungle after the number of refugees already living in it.

Because the building was swiftly approved under local authority legislation, national politicians are barely aware of it.

With a presidential election campaign in full swing, accusations that France has reneged on the deal to shut the original Sangatte fell on deaf ears. "We are unaware of the new centre," said a spokesman for the interior ministry.

"It is something we will have to look into."

There has been fierce opposition from many in France, including the Calais Chamber of Trade, the tourist office and residents.

A council spokesman said: "It is true that work on the centre has not been publicised. It is not something-which is meant to have a high profile. Refugees will be able to use the centre within the next few weeks."

There are around 1,500 refugees in Calais living in makeshift camps.

The Home Office said the number of refugees caught sneaking into Britain from Calais fell from 10,000 in 2002 to 1,500 last year, a fall of about 88 per cent.