The controversial Sangatte refugee camp in northern France finally stands empty on Saturday - save for a few policemen.

The now infamous Red Cross centre near Calais saw the last of its refugees leave on board two buses.

Mostly Iraqi Kurds, the refugees are travelling from the camp to England, under a deal struck between the British and French governments to shut the centre.

There are no more refugees under our protection Muriel Thorens, Red Cross

The camp, which was attacked in the UK as being a base for illegal immigration, will now be closed permanently.

The deal will see the camp returned to its owner, the channel tunnel operator Eurotunnel.

As the refugees departed Sangatte, Muriel Thorens, a Red Cross spokeswoman said: "The centre is empty. There are no more refugees under our protection."

Work visas

The immigrants destined for the UK will be housed in London or Sheffield on full board for three months, until they find work.

Their return was agreed by Home Secretary David Blunkett, who said the UK would take up to 1,200 Iraqis and Afghans on four-year work visas rather than as asylum seekers.

The refugees will be housed in London or Sheffield

Workers have now started taking down the prefabricated accommodation blocks that are estimated to have housed 67,000 migrants since the camp was set up in 1999.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The deal to close Sangatte is a major achievement and part of an important joint package of measures which puts us in a much better position to stop illegal immigrants before they set off for the UK."

Before they left, some of the last remaining immigrants at the camp helped with the dismantling process on Friday morning.

The closure of the camp shuts the door on an issue which has become a cause celebre in Britain's tabloids.

Sangatte was attacked by British politicians as a haven for people-smugglers and a base for illegal entry into the UK.