The head of prisons has pleaded for twice as much money in order to turn around the lives of young people.

Martin Narey was speaking as the publication of a report into the notorious Feltham Young Offenders Institution described the improving facility as "off the critical list".

The Prison Service was still desperately short of adequate funds for teenagers, Mr Narey said.

"I still get about a quarter of the money which secure training centres and local authorities get to care for young people."

Feltham is improving but more cash is needed

He insisted a doubling of the young offenders budget would allow him to "provide the care of young people which can really turn their lives around".

The positive report into Feltham, west London, comes after Sir David Ramsbotham, the former chief inspector of prisons, last year said the remaining half under Prison Service control should be privatised because of its widespread problems.

Sir David said he found conditions were "wholly unacceptable", despite three equally damning earlier reports.

However, problems at Feltham have not completely disappeared - there was a suicide last year, after two deaths the year before.

And while Feltham has improved, a report into Huntercombe Young Offenders Institution says the situation has got much worse.