Detainees in the segregation unit say they were not fed for 72 hours

The Prison Ombudsman is studying claims detainees at Yarl's Wood centre were denied food for three days and were seriously injured by guards in the aftermath of a riot last February.

Half the �100m complex in Bedfordshire was burnt down during the disturbance, causing almost �40m damage.

An official inquiry by ombudsman Stephen Shaw is examining how Group 4 staff treated detainees held in the centre's segregation unit in the immediate aftermath of the riot.

I was starved, I didn't have anything to eat for three days Lucky Jacobs, detainee

Group 4 denies any inmate was not offered food in the 72 hours after the fire.

Lucky Jacobs, a Nigerian who has been acquitted of involvement in the incident, is among several detainees to launch a civil case against the private security firm alleging abuse.

He told the BBC's Today programme: "I was starved, I didn't have anything to eat for three days. No access to telephone calls to contact my solicitor to explain my situation."

He said on the third day he was held he asked a guard why he had not been given anything to eat.

'Excessive force'

"The only thing he said to me was 'Well, you guys have burned the building down. How do you expect us to prepare food for you because the kitchen has been lost by fire'.

"That was the only answer I got."

Two other detainees, Henry Momodou, who has been convicted of violent disorder on the night of the riot, and Kayode Abdul, who was acquitted, say they too were denied food.

Mr Jacobs also claims up to 15 guards called to separate him and a cellmate used excessive force.

Alasdair Bright, a regular visitor to Yarl's Wood, said he had witnessed Mr Jacobs's injuries.

It really did look like he'd been beaten up and I was quite shocked Alasdair Bright, Yarl's Wood visitor

He said: "He certainly couldn't move his arm, which had been held behind his back and couldn't turn his head, his neck was so stiff.

"There was quite severe bruising around his face so it really did look like he'd been beaten up and I was quite shocked."

Ian Eaglestone, chairman of the Independent Monitoring Board, said it had not witnessed any wrongdoing by Group 4 staff but its members could not be there 24 hours a day.

John Bates, of Group 4, denied all claims of mistreatment of detainees held in the segregation unit.

He told the Today programme: "These are very serious allegations that are being made and it's quite ridiculous to demonise our staff in this way.

Fire wrecked half of the buildings at the centre

"These are very well trained staff, professional and conscientious."

He said use by staff of control and restraint techniques to deal with "violent and disruptive people" held in the unit was carefully monitored.

Mr Shaw confirmed he was studying testimonies from detainees.

He said: "Allegations raised by the Today programme that some asylum seekers were denied food and that they experienced excessive force will be investigated as part of the inquiry.

"We will be looking at all aspects of the treatment of detainees in the immediate aftermath of the fire."

The government's immigration service would not make a comment while the inquiry was underway.

By 2005, Yarl's Wood is expected to accommodate about 400 people including single females and family groups, but no single men.