RESIDENTS and protesters united to demand the closure of Campsfield House detention centre in Kidlington after detainees rioted again today.

Shortly after 6.20am, 35 firefighters were called to the immigration centre in Langford Lane, together with police and paramedics.

It was the third major incident involving detainees since the start of the year.

It was thought to be sparked by attempts to remove one inmate and it was claimed they had started a hunger strike.

The situation was said to be under control by 3pm.

Residents living in neighbouring Evenlode Crescent called for the centre to be closed after yet another major incident.

Mother-of-two Sarah Pitman, 42, said: "They should just close it down. It's an old building and the conditions inside must be terrible.

"We are getting to the point where it seems like there are police and ambulances outside our doors every time we look out of the window."

Her husband Dave added: "Last time, I chased a detainee and then the coppers caught up with him.

"These incidents are making a mockery of the prison service but once the Government hands over the running of the place to a private company (GEO), then this is what they can expect.

"What they save on running costs they will end up paying on police."

Colin Williams, 40, of Evenlode Crescent, added: "When it kicks off you have all these fire engines down here and the police and it causes a disturbance for the whole day. They need to have a firm who can run it properly."

Bob Hughes, a spokesman for the Campaign to Close Campsfield, said: "This place is an affront to British decency and British values and all places like it should be closed."

Trouble broke out after prison officers removed one detainee, identified as Davis Osagie, from his room during the early hours.

Before midday, extra police and firefighters were drafted in to tackle the disturbance.

The emergency services were joined throughout the morning by Home Office prison officers carrying riot shields and, shortly before 11.30am, two more fire engines and one fire service vehicle carrying a skylift were called to the centre.

They were accompanied by three police vans and another vehicle containing a dog-handlers' unit. Mounted police were also used.

One woman, who asked not to be named, added: "I have lived here for ten years and until now this place never bothered me. But there have been repeated incidents this year and a lot of my neighbours have told me they want Campsfield to be closed."

Police spokesman Victoria Bartlett said: "We were called to Campsfield House, near Kidlington, at 6.20am after reports of a disturbance inside.

"We assisted staff from Campsfield House in securing the perimeter of the building."

Stuart Green, a Border and Immigration Agency spokesman, said: "We can confirm that a disturbance began within one block of Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre.

"The Prison Service and police have assisted the Border and Immigration Agency by securing the perimeter, which has not been breached.

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

No one from GEO was available for comment.