By Dominic Hughes BBC correspondent in Sydney

The detainees had been refusing food as part of a protest against their detention and the slow rate at which their claims for asylum were being processed.

But after 16 days of refusing food, they have agreed to end their hunger strike.

Lawyers working with the detainees say that up to 140 people, including children, were taking part in the protest.

But the Australian Government has disputed this figure, saying only around 80 people were refusing to eat.

'Point made'

Child protection officers visited the Woomera detention centre on Tuesday after concerns were raised about the health of the children taking part in the protest.

The asylum seekers, calling for their release into the community and a faster processing of their claims for refugee status, had threatened to starve themselves to death if their demands were not met.

But refugee advocates say they have ended their protest now their point has been made.

Meanwhile, 10 people, including two teenage boys, remain on the run, having broken out of the Woomera detention centre nearly two weeks ago.