PRISONERS sparked a drunken fight after getting high on alcoholic hand gel meant to combat swine flu.

Inmates at Portland’s Verne Prison have been drinking the gel, say officers.

The allegation follows reports that inmates at the island jail have been taking part in bouts of bare-knuckle boxing for cash.

A source at the prison said the gels were similar to those removed from the entrances Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

It was claimed that vagrants had been drinking from the dispensers placed at the hospital’s entrances.

The source at the Verne said: “The cleansers were put out on a wing to combat swine flu but as soon as they were put out, the prisoners started drinking the stuff straight out of them.

“There was a fight after one of the prisoners got violent after drinking the gel.

“The canisters have now all been removed from the wings but I couldn’t quite believe it when they were put out in the first place, especially after what had happened at Dorset County Hospital.”

The source, a member of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA), said the presence of the gels created the risk of increased violence among inmates.

He added: “This has bee a bit of an eye-opener for me.”

Andy Fear, a member of the Verne’s POA committee, said: “These canisters were originally put out because of the swine flu threat.

“It was subsequently reported by some association members working here that the inmates had been incorrectly using them, for want of a better phrase.

“The suspicion that was reported to us was that some of the inmates had drunk them and, following this, the duty governor John Hanson took the decision to remove the gels from the wings.”

Mr Fear added: “Of course some of the officers expressed concerns over potentially having to deal with prisoners who have had a drink.”

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice confirmed the hand gels were recently removed from a wing at the Verne following reports of a prisoner being drunk.

The spokesman said: “On Monday a prisoner at Her Majesty’s Prison The Verne showed signs of intoxication, the cause of which will be investigated.

“Antibacterial gel pumps have been removed from the prison as a precautionary measure.”

Tim Roberts, branch chairman of the POA, said that that the association had raised concerns when it was first announced that the gel dispensers were being placed in the prison.

He said: “We had reservations when the plan was first mooted. Our members have been concerned and the latest incident seems to bear out those concerns.”

The governor was not available for comment.