More than 100 "very serious prisoners" have escaped from jail on the British Virgin Islands.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Minister Sir Alan Duncan said the escapees pose "a serious threat of complete breakdown of law and order".

"The prison was breached, over 100 very serious prisoners escaped," Sir Alan said.

Sir Alan said Marines from RFA Mounts Bay were used to "protect the Governor and everything else about law and order" on Friday.

"And I'm pleased to say that 24 hours later, or 48 hours later, we've been able significantly to reinforce the Marines.

"So we have maintained and kept law and order on the British Virgin Islands, which at one point could have dramatically threatened the already-unfortunate plight of those who had been hit by the hurricane."

The Government has sent almost 1000 military personnel after more than half a million Britons found themselves in the path of Hurricane Irma.

Sir Alan told the Commons that 997 members of the armed forces had been dispatched, along with 47 police officers.