Booze blamed as rioters torch prison

Firefighters were also sent to HMP Ford after 40 prisoners smashed windows and started blazes in the early hours of Saturday morning.

At least two fire engines and an extra 140 prison staff are on the site after flames spread from one block to another.

The Prison Officers' Association said the violence began after staff tried to breathalyse some of the 200 prisoners.

It has been claimed only two prison officers and four support staff were on duty at the time to manage a prison population of up to 200 inmates.

Mark Freeman, deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, said alcohol had been a concern at the open prison for some time, with dozens of empty bottles found in recent days.

He added that prisoners turned violent after they refused to be breathalysed.

Throughout the morning plumes of smoke could be seen above the open prison.

Firefighters eventually went in shortly after noon. Scores of prison officers in riot gear escorted two fire engines on to the site.

By 1pm, the authorities had regained control of one of the two wings.

But Mr Freeman claimed insufficient staffing levels were partly to blame for the trouble.

He said: "It's very difficult when you have a very small staff, which they did last night.

"In our view they do not have enough staff, the general policy is that prisons in an open state have less staff but we feel they should have more because they have more access to illegal activities.

"This is what happens when you have the mix of easily available alcohol and the wrong type of prisoner."