DEPUTY Prime Minister Two Jags Prescott was today accused of running scared after cancelling an appointment at which Daedalus Action Group members were due to demonstrate.

Dozens of action group members campaigning against the planned asylum seeker centre at Lee-on-the-Solent were planning to picket the Portsmouth Dockyard base where John Prescott - dubbed Two Jags because of his use of luxury cars - was due to give a speech today.

Following the ann-ouncement that demonstrators were due to turn out in force to confront Mr Prescott the appointment has been cancelled.

Chairman of the action group John Beavis said: "We believe he has cancelled because he heard about what we were planning to do.

"I don't see how he could think that we wouldn't react after he ignored the views of the community in Bicester in approving a centre there.

"That's not the sort of thing we were going to take lying down."

Mr Prescott became embroiled in the asylum seeker centre row after he overturned the views of a planning inspector who, following a public inquiry, ruled against plans for a centre in Bicester.

It prompted fears that plans for the 400-bed centre at Daedalus could just be railroaded through despite the objections of residents.

According to Whitehall officials, Mr Prescott, who has a reputation for confronting demonstrators after allegedly punching one who threw an egg at him during the election campaign of 2001, had to cancel because of urgent business.

His office denied the deputy prime minister had cancelled the engagement with the South East Regional Assembly because of the picket.

A spokesman said: "He does regret having to cancel the engagement but unfortunately he does have to deal with some urgent government business. He is certainly not the type to shy away from the public or confrontation.

"He has arranged for a minister in his department to take his place."

The action group's protest has now been cancelled.