Conditions at Chelmsford Prison in Essex have been condemned as "poor and cramped" by the jail's board of visitors.

In a report published on Tuesday, the board described Chelmsford Prison as "overcrowded, under-resourced and under almost intolerable strain".

The report pointed to a 30% increase in prisoners over the past year, while already stretched staffing levels had remained unchanged.

"Like most other prisons, we are just waiting for the disaster which will highlight the problems with the press and public," the report said.

The report criticised the standard of cells and said there were too many prisoners and too few staff.