MORE than 50 people joined a protest outside Kidlington’s Campsfield immigration detention centre calling for it to be closed.

People from across the UK travelled to Oxfordshire for the action on Saturday morning.

It comes after 70 Oxford University academics wrote to the Prime Minister this month criticising plans to expand the 276-bed centre, adding another 290 beds.

One of those at the protest was 21-year-old Warwick University student Oliver Lindop, who travelled with 23 others from his university.

The history student said: “I just think it is ridiculous that we hold refugees and asylum seekers for indefinite amounts of time while their cases are being processed.”

The centre, which opened in 1993, is for men who have been through the immigration process, are going through on appeal or are criminals awaiting removal from the UK.

The Home Office says detention is used as a last resort when people will not leave voluntarily or when there is a serious risk they will abscond from bail.

Cherwell District Council will have a final say on the expansion plans at a later date.