Four guards hurt in youth jail violence

LONDON, Oct 2 (Reuters) Young offenders went on the rampage for nine hours at a youth jail, injuring four guards and causing widespread damage, a Prison Service spokeswoman said today.

Violence erupted when 33 inmates refused to return to their cells yesterday at the Stoke Heath Young Offender Institution near Market Drayton, Shropshire.

Three guards suffered minor injuries and a fourth was taken to hospital with a suspected broken nose.

None of the inmates was hurt during the disturbance in the youth jail's A-wing.

''Considerable damage was caused to the common areas on the wing,'' an HM Prison Service spokeswoman said. ''Police will now be investigating the incident.'' She would not say what sparked the disturbance or comment on the extent of the damage.

Specially-trained guards were brought in to bring the situation under control. The trouble ended after nine hours at 2:15 a.m. today.

Twelve inmates were sent to other jails and seven were moved to a segregated area.

Stoke Heath was built in 1964 as an adult prison before being converted to a young offender institution which houses up to 690 inmates.

REUTERS LL VC1732