A catalogue of racist behaviour at immigration detention centres was exposed by an official report today.

The report, commissioned by the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) described the atmosphere at a range of detention centres, including Campsfield House, in Kidlington. The inspection team found a "tense" atmosphere at Campsfield where one member of staff said: "If this was white British people in here we would be a lot stricter, it is because they are black people that we are afraid."

At Lindholme immigration removal centre, in South Yorkshire, one member of staff described north African detainees as "donkeys", accompanied by "full animal sounds", the report said. The officer has since been dismissed and relations between staff and detainees have improved. BIA chief executive Lin Homer said: "The BIA takes any allegation of abuse or misconduct very seriously which is why we commissioned this report.

"We are pleased the report recognises that race relations procedures are operating above average at nine out of 10 removal centres."