Riot after Channel security tightened

Day after day people try to access the tunnel

French police have used tear gas to disperse illegal immigrants after rioting broke out at the Sangatte refugee centre close to a cross-Channel freight depot near Calais.

At least four of the rioters were seriously wounded in fighting, which began shortly after the French railway authorities announced measures to tighten security at the depot.

The centre holds about 1,200 immigrants

Britain has complained repeatedly about illegal immigrants using the depot as a means to enter Britain through the Channel Tunnel.

The state-owned French railway company, SNCF, said it would install infra-red cameras and erect a double layer of fencing and barbed wire around the existing fence of the depot, to deter immigrants from Sangatte.

On Friday the British Home Secretary, David Blunkett, arranged meetings with the newly-appointed French Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, to discuss ways of tackling the immigration problem.

Fences smashed

More than 100 police officers were called in to curb the violence in which dozens of immigrants were injured. One man is in a critical condition with knife wounds, according to police officials.

Some of the rioters threw stones and smashed up a fence and used fence posts as weapons in the clashes.

Mr Blunkett has accused France of lax policing

The violence broke out after a football match in the camp, but tensions were already high due to the increased security, local residents said.

Police managed to quell the violence, but more than 100 Kurds were prevented from re-entering the camp to prevent further trouble.

The camp's deputy director Michel Meriaux said anyone involved in the violence would be required to commit themselves not to cause further disturbances before they were re-admitted.

Crisis talks

This was the latest of several violent incidents at the Red Cross centre, which shelters about 1,200 refugees.

Last month an Iraqi Kurd was stabbed to death in a fight with other Kurds.

On Friday France's Interior Minister said in a statement he and Mr Blunkett had agreed to step up co-operation resolve the illegal immigration problem.

The British Government has accused France of lax policing around Sangatte, allowing many immigrants to board trains to Britain illegally.

The interior ministers will meet in London in June and Paris in July, a statement from the French interior ministry said.