The jail's B wing has been closed

However, staff have won praise for their efforts in rehabilitating offenders.

The jail has recently had problems housing some of its inmates.

Just over a year ago 87 inmates had to be transferred after traces of asbestos were found in the heating system.

And the prison's B wing has been closed down completely, condemned as unsafe to house prisoners.

The latest report commends improvements made by the prison's governor but said more needed to be done to modernise conditions, especially where segregated inmates are held.

The inspection - which was unannounced -was carried out in July 2001 at the prison which currently houses around 350 inmates.

Inspectors said it was unacceptable that prisoners in cells in the underground section of the jail, which houses vulnerable and segregated prisoners, do not have toilets.

It means inmates have to call on staff during the night to let them out to use other facilities.

The jail's education programme has been praised

They also criticised the lack of showers in all areas which means that not all inmates are able to shower every day.

Parts of the prison are described as "grubby" in the report, and the inspectors called for cleanliness standards to be improved as well as more furniture, blankets and pillows to be provided in cells.

The inspectors were positive about the standard of education for inmates, and the efforts made to give offenders very basic skills as part of their rehabilitation.

Segregated prisoners

But there was criticism of the way segregated prisoners are served, with very limited resources being made available to them.

The report concludes not enough is being done to put new inmates through an induction programme, and to plan out their sentence.

Also, at the time of the inspection, the report said insufficient monitoring of bullying was being carried out.

However, governor Vicky O'Dea said a wide ranging anti-bullying strategy has since been implemented.