YOUNG criminals wrecked their recreation room and wielded pool cues as weapons in a major outbreak of violence at Deerbolt Young Offenders Institution in Barnard Castle.

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews were called to the incident involving 25 prisoners on Wednesday night, one of whom was hospitalised with scalds.

Staff responded to the alarm raised by the three officers on D Wing at 7.20pm, where they were met by the hostile inmates, out on evening association, brandishing pool cues and chair legs as weapons.

Damage estimated at thousands of pounds was caused after the prisoners barricaded themselves in and wrecked the recreation room - smashing furniture, breaking windows, throwing pool and snooker balls at the staff, and blocking their exit. But they made no demands, and no reason has been given for the outburst.

"Deerbolt staff surrounded the wing and the Tornado contingency plan, which calls on other prison establishments for help, came into play," said a prison service spokesman.

"Around 100 staff from Low Newton, Frankland, Durham and Holme House prisons responded, together with the emergency services, which would attend any such incident as a matter of course."

No staff were injured in the incident, but one prisoner, who suffered scalds after boiling water was thrown over him, was taken to an outside hospital.

"The prisoners eventually surrendered around 11pm, with no intervention needed," said the spokesman.

"Eight of the prisoners were identified as the troublemakers and were removed to other establishments immediately."

The incident, which was classed as major by the spokesman, is now the subject of an investigation.

Det Insp Billy Hugill, of Bishop Auckland Police, said: "We were made aware of the incident, officers attended, and we are now investigating."

Previous incidents at Deerbolt have included:

l February 2005 - a riot left the inside of the prison chapel in ruins. Six inmates from the Manchester area were responsible. SAS-style stun grenades were used to end the incident in which the chaplain and one prison suffered slight injuries.

l March 2004 - a female prison officer suffered a broken ankle as she tried to subdue an irate inmate.

l January 2004 - an inmate poured boiling water over another prisoner's head.