Protesters continued their demonstration outside Campsfield House detention centre in Kidlington as prisoners on hunger strike reportedly vowed to stop drinking water.

Yesterday scores of people, including the Bishop of Dorchester the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, demonstrated outside the centre in support of inmates who have now, according to one detainee, decided to take their hunger strike to the next stage.

They are striking to protest against asylum seekers being deported back to Zimbabwe, where they fear they will be tortured and killed.

Noble Sibandi, 29, a spokesman for the detainees, said: "They have now decided to stop drinking water.

"If they are sent back they face death, extreme torture, rape. This is a struggle, it's actually worth it, rather than face the brutal regime of a dictator where you will be tortured and killed.

"This way is better. We know we are ready for it.

"I want to die this way rather than die there."

The strike started eight days ago in support of Crispen Kulinji 33, of Zimbabwe who was due to be deported on Saturday but was given a last-minute reprieve.

In the early hours of Monday morning, an 18-year-old Turkish man, Ramazon Komlucain, committed suicide, and an Iraqi man swallowed a needle, allegedly, to try to kill himself.

Mr Sibandi, a Zimbabwean national, is part of the United Network of Detained Zimbawans in the UK.

He was detained in Harmondsworth removal centre but was released three weeks ago while his case is being reviewed. He is taking part in the hunger strike but will continue to drink water to be able to keep campaigning.

He is in contact with the Campsfield inmates three times a day.

He said: "They are becoming weaker and weaker. They take a long time to answer the phone and are very drowsy. Many of them are too weak to walk."

He said the next stage would be sewing up their lips.

Teresa Hayter , of the Campaign to Close Camspfield, said: "I think it's very terrible, but I support whatever they want to do and I understand how distressed they feel. They feel they haven't yet won their right not to be deported. It seems that Tony Blair is refusing to agree not to deport Zimbabweans."

Richard Warburton , a spokesman for the Home Office, said last night: "We cannot comment on whether they are refusing liquid until the morning when we will have been able to confirm if that is correct."

He said that 111 out of the 148 inmates had refused lunch on June 27, 24 refused dinner on Monday and yesterday (Tuesday) 40 people refused breakfast.