Yarl's Wood: Two staff injured during immigration centre protest

A different riot at Yarl's Wood detention centre, just north of Bedford, in April saw 13 people flee the unit

Sixty people have been involved in a major security breach at an immigration removal centre.

Police were called to Yarl's Wood, near Bedford, on Wednesday after a protest inside. Two members of staff received minor injuries after some residents refused to return to their rooms.

One detainee, who asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC doors and windows were smashed.

Serco, the firm that operates the unit, said order had been "restored".

In April, a riot led to 13 people escaping from the centre and a recent inspection report found it was "no longer safe".

Bedfordshire Police said it was called at about 21:40 BST to support Serco staff. It is understood no detainees were injured and none escaped.

John Reid has lived nearby for 20 years

John Reid, who lives near the site, said he saw and heard emergency vehicles.

"There will be a lot of cause for concern about how secure this place is," he said.

A spokesperson for security company Serco described the incident as a "disturbance" and said: "Order has been peacefully restored and the centre is now calm."

Yarl's Wood, in Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire, is an immigration removal centre where people with disputed status can be detained without a defined time limit.

It has been run by Serco since 2007.

The Home Office said there were "robust security measures in all immigration removal centres and an incident such as this is extremely rare".