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MADRID, Feb 20 (Reuters) - A prominent Spanish judge at the centre of a political storm over a probe into alleged corruption in the conservative opposition was taken to hospital on Friday after suffering an anxiety attack, court sources said.

Garzon, 53, who is noticeable for his normally cool demeanour, left Madrid's High Court on Friday looking flushed and with a hand on his chest before being driven to hospital in his car, the sources said.

The investigating magistrate was suffering from high blood pressure and although he was out of danger, the judge would be kept in hospital overnight while doctors continued to perform tests, the judicial sources said.

Garzon shot to international prominence when he tried to extradite former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, and is a household name in Spain for his investigations into Islamic extremism, ETA Basque militants and other issues.

His anxiety attack was a further twist in a story that has dominated Spanish newspapers in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, Spain's conservative Popular Party opposition accused Garzon of trying to smear its name and acting in league with the Socialist government.

Garzon -- known to his admirers as "superjudge" -- is leading an investigation into bribery and misallocation of local government contracts in which members of the conservative Popular Party active in town hall politics have been implicated.

The party's anger boiled over when pictures were published in newspapers showing Garzon on a hunting trip with Justice Minister Mariano Fernandez Bermejo.

The Popular Party says the hunting expedition in Andalucia was evidence of political motives behind the corruption probe and it called on the Bermejo to resign.

Garzon had already begun the process of passing case to regional courts earlier this week as requested by Spain's anti-corruption prosecutor, court papers show, since Spanish law prevents High Court judges trying figures in public office. (Reporting by Emma Pinedo; writing by Ben Harding; Editing by Jon Boyle)

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