Anxious residents living in the shadow of Campsfield House have this morning demanded the detention centre steps up security.

Four detainees remain on the loose after a mass break out at the detention centre, in Langford Lane, near Kidlington, at 3.45am.

Three of the detainees were recaptured near by and officers, backed up by the police helicopter, are continuing to search the area.

John England, 58, of Begbroke Crescent, has a home which backs onto a field behind Campsfield House. He said: "It's very worrying. I'm thinking about putting up some security at the house.

"We don't mind them being here so much but when they cannot be contained that is when it starts getting worrying for me and my wife.

"They must be desperate men and I hate to think what they could do to remain free.

"Hopefully the powers that be can keep the other detained and I'll sleep a lot better at night."

People living in Evenlode Crescent, which leads to Campsfield House, said they were tired of all the trouble at the detention centre.

A 65-year-old women of Evenlode Crescent who did not want to be named said: "We never heard a thing last night.

"The only time we know there was trouble there is when we see the police or fire engine and that is happening a lot these days."

Her neighbour, a 50 year-old mother of two, said: "They should just shut it down. It's a pain and an inconvenience. Now we have found out about the crime people in there have done we are all a bit more wary."

Bob Perkin, owner of Begbroke Stores, said: "I was up at about 5.30 this morning and there were police with a search dog in the village. They said someone had escaped and I had to be careful."

Six of the 26 men who broke out of Campsfield last year remain at large, the Home Office said this morning.