Local people are worried by the number of escapes from Oakington

Immigration officials faced questions at a public meeting organised by Longstanton Parish Council about Oakington Reception Centre.

The meeting came just 24 hours after two detainees had absconded from the �4.5m centre, bring the total number of escapes this year to 41.

Manager of the centre, Colin Hodgkins, said they were working to make the complex as secure as possible.

"I think we're still looking for a balance at Oakington," he said.

"We're trying to increase security without making the centre oppressive so that for the vast majority of people who are very compliant it is still a reasonable place to stay while their asylum claims are decided.

"It still isn't a high-security centre."

Locals worried

But local people are still worried about the record number of escapes from the centre.

"They're just getting out and nothing is being done about it," said one woman.

Another villager said: "It does seem to me that absconders have every facility."

The immigration officials said security was being improved and the centre was principally being used for fast-tracking asylum seekers' applications.

Work has been carried out in recent weeks reinforcing fences with razor wire and installing new alarms on doors.