Firefighters were called to the Campsfield House immigration detention centre near Kidlington last night to tackle a blaze.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the Langford Lane centre at around 9pm.

Ten fire engines were called to the scene but the service would give no more details about the fire.

South Central Ambulance Service said one person as taken to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital to be checked over for smoke inhalation and a further 244 were checked at the centre.

A Home Office spokesman said: "A fire at Campsfield immigration removal centre has led to more than half of the detainees being relocated to other removal centres around the UK.

"All the detainees have been accounted for and two male detainees are now in hospital. The cause of the fire is being investigated by police and the fire service.”

Campsfield House is a long-term detention centre where detainees are accommodated while their cases are resolved.

It is run privately by MITIE and has bed space for 216 male detainees.