A man being held at an immigration processing centre in Manston did not die of an infectious disease, it has been confirmed.

But immigration minister Robert Jenrick refuses to say how old the asylum seeker was, how long he'd been housed in Thanet or where he was from, citing concerns any of that information may identify him.

The man died on Saturday after becoming unwell on Friday evening.

It is understood he arrived in the UK as part of a small boat crossing on November 12. Mr Jenrick said at this point he was believed to already be ill.

A statement from the Home Office reads: "We express our heartfelt condolences to all those affected.

"We take the safety of those in our care extremely seriously and are profoundly saddened by this event.

"A post-mortem examination will take place so it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time."

"We need a compassionate asylum system that works..."

Efforts are under way to inform the man’s next of kin and the death has been reported to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Since the man's death support groups have called for urgent action to overhaul the immigration system.

Freedom From Torture - which provides psychological support to asylum seekers - has called for a “compassionate asylum system”.

It posted on Twitter: “We’ve said it before: this Government’s cruelty to refugees isn’t accidental – it’s the whole point.

“We need a compassionate asylum system that works. NOW.”

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said there will need to be a “full investigation” into the incident.

The Labour MP said: “We send deepest condolences to the family of the man who has died after staying at Manston.

“There will need to be a full investigation into what has happened in this tragic case.”

This is thought to be the first death of someone processed at Manston.

The site has made national headlines in recent weeks, with its cramped conditions inside being described as "inhumane".

Asylum seekers are meant to be at Manston for only short periods of time while undergoing security and identity checks, before being moved to the Home Office’s asylum accommodation.

Some people have been held for longer periods due to a lack of alternative accommodation, with concerns raised over poor conditions.

At one stage the number of people being held there rose to 4,000 as many were moved from a site in Dover following a firebomb attack on that facility.

The Thanet site is designed to hold 1,600 asylum seekers, and the Home Office says numbers are now at normal levels.

People have described being infected with scabies in overcrowded tents while being forced to sleep on the floor and on chairs at the under-fire facility.

"There will need to be a full investigation into what has happened in this tragic case..."

The poor state of the facility was further highlighted earlier this month when a young girl threw a message in a bottle over the perimeter fence to a PA news agency photographer.

In the note, the child begged for help, compared the site to a prison and suggested 50 families had been held there for more than 30 days.