EMERGENCY services have been called to Winchester Prison this evening following reports of disturbances inside the jail.

The fire service confirmed several engines had been sent to the prison on Romsey Road to tackle a suspected fire.

On prisoner was taken to hospital after inhaling smoke from a fire.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said tonight: "There has been an incident and one prisoner is in hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. Everything is under control and there is no widespread disruption. There is no riot.

"Earlier in the day two prisoners got onto the safety netting at height but they were brought down with no injuries."

Social media posts said a prison service riot squad was on the scene along with ambulances and prison vans to take inmates to other jails.

There was a serious disturbance last summer which led to some 150 offenders being transferred to other establishments.

Winchester is a local prison that takes offenders sentenced by the local courts in Winchester, Southamton, Basingstoke, Portsmouth and Aldershot.