Protesters targeted a Home Office immigration centre in Leeds yesterday over the government's refusal to give refuge to people fleeing the civil war in Syria.

Leeds No Borders campaign group staged the protest outside Waterside Court, regional headquarters of the government's UK Borders Agency.

The Western-supported uprising in Syria has caused one of the largest refugee exoduses in recent history, with no end in sight to the conflict.

At least 2.3 million people have fled Syria according to the Refugee Council.

But the Westminster government refuses to resettle a single refugee from Syria.

Leeds No Borders said 97 per cent of Syria's refugees are being sheltered by a small number of neighbouring countries who are struggling to cope.

Parliament will today vote on whether Britain should offer safety to some of Syria's most vulnerable refugees.

A spokeswoman for Leeds No Borders group said: "The protest also called for detention centres to be shut down and for the government's proposed Immigration Bill to be scrapped."

The Bill will introduce regulations making it easier for the Home Office to deport people.

It will drastically affect people's right to appeal against deportation, reducing the recognised reasons for appealing against deportation from 17 to four - and impose charges on immigrants for using the NHS if they have not been granted leave to stay in Britain.

But Nick Clegg said yesterday Britain is to take in some of the most vulnerable refugees from the Syrian civil war.