Joanna Lumley targeted in Facebook campaign against Gurkha 'influx' on Astini News

The 35-year-old HGV driver, from Aldershot, added: "Joanna Lumley was happy to use her face to get publicity for her cause, now we are using her name to show the result.

"Our problem is not with the Gurkhas it is with the government.

"If they matched the increase in residents with an increase in money and infrastructure there would not be a problem."

Writing on the "Joanna Lumley has F**ked up Aldershot and Farnborough" page, Dionne Mayhew said: "Wow this group is doing well!!!

"I didn't realise so many people in Aldershot and Farnborough shared the same views!!!

"Shame there's not much anyone can do about it..... :/"

The Lumley Legacy page says: "In 2008, Joanna Lumley became the public face of a campaign to provide all Gurkha veterans and their dependants the right to settle in Britain.

"What nobody was prepared for was the massive effect this has had on the Aldershot and Farnborough areas.

"They are now struggling to cope with the influx of approximately 9,000 Nepalese, many of which are elderly and do not speak English.

"This caused - and is still causing - a huge drain on the local services.

"On top of housing and support they now also need translators for doctor and dentist appointments.

"This has to be paid for on an already over stretched budget."

It continues: "Our problems are not with the Nepalese people themselves but the government.

"They never prepared the infrastructure or supplied more money to cope with the massive influx of 9,000 people to such a small area.

"36,000 Gurkhas have served on behalf of this country.

"With all dependants given the right to move here, potentially this means that over 100,000 Nepalese people have the right to be granted visas."

Tikendra Dewan, chairman of the British Gurkha Welfare Society, said it was unfair to blame Lumley.

He said: "I agree that there is an issue of over-crowding in the area but the Facebook pages are dealing with the problem in the wrong way.

"Picking out Joanna Lumley for blame is unfair. She was the Queenpin of the campaign but she is not to blame for the situation.

"There was cross-party support in parliament to give Gurkhas the right to settle in the UK.

"We now need the government to follow-up that support with funding for public services.

"Gurkhas receive a lower pension than British soldiers but if they were paid the same many would return home to Nepal."

Joanna Lumley was unavailable for comment but Peter Carroll, who campaigned alongside her, said the Facebook pages were "deplorable".

He added: "I'm sick to the bottom of my stomach. The people that have signed up to these pages really need to reflect on what they are saying.

"The Gurkhas are British army veterans who should be loved and looked after - not 'dispersed'.

"People criticise them for not speaking English but when they were in the army they were banned from doing so and were punished if they did."

A spokeswoman for Rushmoor Borough Council, which covers Aldershot and Farnborough, said the council understood residents' concerns.

She said: "The towns of Aldershot and Farnborough have seen a rapid rise in the rate of in-migration of former Gurkha soldiers.

"It follows the decision of the last government - as a result of the Joanna Lumley campaign - to allow Gurkhas, who served pre 1997, residency in the UK.

"We understand the concerns this may cause some people but also acknowledge the considerable contribution made by the Gurkha regiments to our armed forces.

"We remain committed to providing quality services to all our community and will continue to lobby the government for assistance."