NINE people have been taken to hospital after suffering smoke inhalation during a disturbance at an Oxfordshire immigration detention centre.

A Home Office spokesman said the incident at Campsfield House immigration removal centre in Kidlington began at 6.30am.

Seven immigration staff at the centre, which is run by private company GEO UK, and two detainees have been taken to hospital, she added.

A Home Office spokesman later said Tornado teams - riot-trained prison officers - were working to get the centre completely under control as soon as possible.

The centre, which opened in 1993, holds 200 adult male detainees, including failed asylum seekers and immigration offenders awaiting deportation.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said all three emergency services were called to the centre, in Langford Lane, at 6.50am.

He said 30 firefighters were at the scene to deal with the fire although the main issue was smoke damage.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, Dr Evan Harris, said: "This is very worrying, especially given the history of disturbances at Campsfield House, and continued allegations and complaints of poor treatment of detainees. I am seeking urgent information from the Home Office."

Bill MacKeith, one of the organisers of the Campaign to Close Campsfield protest group, said he understood that the incident had been triggered by the "violent" removal of a detainee.

Witnesses at the scene said dogs, presumed to be guard dogs, could still be heard barking, but only one fire engine and a couple of police cars remained.