Scotland's chief inspector of prisons has branded Aberdeen's jail "an idle, unsafe and failing prison".

In a report on Craiginches Prison, Clive Fairweather said that five years ago it was a well run establishment with good staff and prisoner morale.

He said the prison had "greatly deteriorated" due to overcrowding and a rise in the drugs culture in the north-east - resulting in a high level of drug misuse among newly admitted prisoners.

Mr Fairweather's overall assessment of the jail has been rejected by the Scottish Prison Service - although it accepted most of his recommendations for improvements.

Inspector's recommendations

Health care services should be reviewed Longer-term accommodation requirements should be urgently reviewed Urgent need to reinvigorate the regime Review staffing levels and sickness absence An immediate programme of cleaning and decorating is required Unacceptable levels of violence should be addressed Urgent training in the use of life saving equipment required Improve prisoner access to work, education and visits

The chief inspector said that in the last year Craiginches had more serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults than Barlinnie, near Glasgow, whose population is five times greater.

Mr Fairweather sets out eight recommendations in his report.

The Scottish Prison Service has agreed to most of these, including moves to end overcrowding.

But it has rejected as unfair the chief inspector's description of the prison as "idle, unsafe and failing".

Prison governor Audrey Mooney said: "Nobody likes criticism but there is a great deal in Clive's report that we were aware of and had actually started to give attention to.

"The publication of Clive's report has increased that focus and things are moving ahead very quickly to try and address what Clive has highlighted."

Justice Minister Jim Wallace has called the report "disturbing".

'Heads should roll'

The prison, which was built in 1890, houses 215 prisoners in a jail whose capacity is 155.

Some are prisoners on remand, while others are adult males serving sentences of up to four years.

There is also a small wing for adult female prisoners serving sentences of less than six months.

The prison is also used for holding people awaiting deportation.

The Scottish National Party MSP for North East Scotland, Richard Lochhead, said the neglect of Craiginches was "scandalous" and "heads should roll as a result of this report".

He said he was writing to the parliament's Justice Committee suggesting an investigation into conditions at Craiginches and the prison role in reducing drug related crime.