THREE prison officers needed hospital treatment after violence flared inside the highly praised Lancaster Farms Young Offenders' Institute.

One officer suffered a broken wrist after inmates started fighting.

The Citizen understands that the trouble broke out in a recreation area within the unit. Officers tried to calm the situation but three were hurt.

It is believed the three officers are still off work.

A Home Office spokesman says: "I can confirm that earlier this month there was an incident at the Lancaster Farms Young Offenders' Institute that resulted in three officers requiring hospital treatment.

"One of these officers suffered a fractured wrist in the incident.

"This matter is now the subject of a police investigation so I am unable to comment any further."

The current capacity of the institution is 532 and activities include work-shops, farms and gardens, and works department.

There are also a number of offending behaviour groups including thinking skills, anger management, alcohol awareness and Welfare to Work.

Lancaster Farms is one of the best-performing prisons in the country but last week 16-year-old Gareth Price, of County Durham, was found hanged in his cell. He died the following day in the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

And last year a 20-year-old remand prisoner was found hanged, while rioting prisoners barricaded themselves into a cell in August.

Police are currently investigating the death of Price, and Det Insp Neil Esseen says: "At this stage there are no indications of foul play or third party involvement. All death in cells are fully investigated on behalf of the coroner to ensure the clearest understanding of the circumstances.

"This will hopefully help to prevent tragedies such as this in the future."

Lancaster Farms opened in March 1993 as a remand centre and young offender institution. Two new units were opened in June 1996 and in May 2001 Buttermere and Windermere units were re-roled and are now dedicated Juvenile Units.