Afghan government forces have lost control of the centre of the town of Sangin in Helmand province after days of fierce fighting, reports suggest, according to BBC News.

Officials told the BBC that the Taliban controlled the local government building and police station.

The Taliban say their fighters have seized the entire district and that their flag is flying over Sangin.

However, the Afghan defense ministry said fighting was continuing and that reinforcements had been sent.

District governor Haji Suliman Shah told the BBC he had been airlifted from the district headquarters to Shorabak base - formerly Camp Bastion - in Lashkar Gah early on Wednesday, December 23, along with 15 wounded security force members.

Meanwhile Ashuqullah, a police officer with an Afghan army brigade at a barracks about 7km (four miles) from Sangin, told the BBC the "entire" town was controlled by militants.

"Support troops have been airdropped at a distance... but all roads are blocked and in the militants' control," he added.