SEVEN members of staff were injured following a disturbance by inmates at Portland prison.

The Prison Service and Dorset Police confirmed an incident at HMP & YOI Portland on Thursday.

It is understood the disturbance was contained in one area of the establishment and was dealt with quickly.

Police said they were investigating after officers were called to the jail after reports of staff being assaulted.

The incident started at 12.30pm and was resolved by 1pm.

A spokesman for the Prison Service said: "Prison staff responded swiftly and effectively to resolve a disturbance at Portland prison on Thursday July 30.

"This was an isolated incident which was quickly brought under control.

"Police are investigating and appropriate action will be taken against any prisoner involved."

The Echo understands seven members of staff, thought to be prison officers, received treatment to injuries in the incident. No prisoners were injured.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said they were currently investigating the incident.

He said: “We received reports of an assault on prison staff at HMP and YOI Portland prison, The Grove.

“The incident happened around 12.45pm on Thursday, July 30.

“Officers are currently investigating.”

News of the violent incident comes after problems of legal highs were highlighted in an Independent Monitoring Board report.

It said the prison had been hit by a 'plague' of legal highs which had led to a criminal network and problems of debt, bullying of vulnerable prisoners and their families and gang activity.

The report said because the legal high Spice, a synthetic cannabis substitute, is not illegal police are unwilling or unable to prosecute traffickers.

Despite this problem the report said Portland was the safest YOI in the country and praised the good work going on there.

It said: "The prison management has achieved a positive period of consolidation and as a local and resettlement prison, whose population and staffing levels have changed dramatically over the reporting period."

HMP & YOI Portland is for Category C adult prisoners and a resource for young offenders aged between 18-21.

In response to the IMB report the Prison Service said Portland was well managed by committed staff.