A POLICE investigation was launched after trouble broke out at a Dorset prison.

A prison officer needed hospital treatment and fixtures and fittings were damaged during the violent incident at Guys Marsh, near Shaftesbury.

The disturbance took place a week ago but details have only just been released.

It was one of three incidents in prisons in England in the last week.

The incidents took place as the prison population in England and Wales hit an all-time high of 71,000.

Around 30 prisoners smashed up furniture and equipment in their cells at Guys Marsh on Thursday, May 2.

They barricaded themselves in causing damage and leaving one prison officer with bruising.

The disturbance began at 8.30pm and ended at 3.45 the following morning.

Four days later there was an eight-hour stand-off at Lindholme jail near Doncaster. A total of 25 inmates had refused to return to their cells.

And on Tuesday, 48 prisoners at Ranby prison in Nottinghamshire took over their residential unit. The inmates surrendered after six hours.

This week a spokeswoman for the Prison Service said a range of options is being considered to ease overcrowding and added: "We cannot rule anything in or out."

She said internal investigations will be carried out by the Prison Service and added: "The police will decide themselves whether they wish to take the matter at Guys Marsh any further."