KURDISH People’s Protection Unit (YPG) fighters reported a major step forward today in their battle to drive Islamic State (Isis) extremists from the Syrian border town of Kobane.

The YPG, backed by a small detachment of heavily armed fellow Kurds from Iraq, known as Peshmerga, announced the seizure of the key security district giving them 80 per cent control of the town.

The security district, which includes the police HQ, was liberated following a fierce Kurdish offensive that began on Sunday night.

Kobane official Idriss Nassan said that Isis forces now control just the eastern districts of Maqtala and Kani Kordan.

“Hopefully within days the YPG units will be in control of the whole city. The advance has become more rapid and the air strikes are more intense,” he said, recognising the role played by US warplanes.

The US Central Command said that eight air strikes on Kobane on Sunday had destroyed 11 Isis fighting positions.