A fire is believed to have been started in a communal room at the site in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, and one person was treated for breathing in smoke.

Police and the prison service secured the perimeter of the centre.

A Home Office spokesman said that the disturbance was limited to one or two rooms and a couple of small fires were started.

"A disturbance began within one block of Campsfield House immigration removal centre.

"The prison service and police have assisted the UK Border Agency by securing the perimeter which has not been breached.

"GEO, who run the site, asked the prison service for assistance and a number of specially trained prison officers have been sent to Campsfield."

Prison service officers, known as Tornado teams, who are trained in riot control were sent to the scene but have not been required.

Campsfield House currently holds about 200 immigration offenders and foreign national prisoners.