Refugees are being held in prison following the fire at the Yarls Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire, the Home Office minister Lord Rooker has admitted.

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 World at One programme, he said that 47 asylum seekers were currently being detained.

"We have done it as a precaution to maintain stability and as much tranquility as we can at Yarls Wood at the present time. They have been detained under immigration legislation," he said.

The announcement prompted with heavy criticism from human rights groups.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees expressed concern at the move. "Our concern is that they should not be held as a punishment for what happened in Yarls Wood. Obviously, if they haven't been charged, we do not believe that they should be put in prison," said spokesman Claire Doole.

The former chief inspector of prisons, Sir David Ramsbotham, also condemned the announcement.

"This is something which has not been sanctioned by law. The regime that we can put them under has got to be much more of a voluntary code, by law," he said.

"That is laid down by the UN detention rules, which we have signed up to and which have been used as the basis for writing the immigration rules for this country."