A blaze that broke out in a disused Roman factory late Thursday forced scores of squatting immigrants out into a freezing Roman night.

None of the 100 or so Roma gypsies and other immigrants - including 30 children - was hurt, police said.

The immigrants, who had been living in the former detergent factory for months, were bussed to temporary accommodation in the city's former trade fair pavilions.

Police were investigating the cause of the fire.