PLANS are allegedly under way for Britain's version of Camp X-Ray, which would see suspected al-Qaida terrorists held at one of the region's maximum security prisons.

According to newspaper reports, plans are being drawn up to create a detention camp for suspected terrorists at York's Full Sutton Prison, home to some of the country's most notorious criminals.

A high security wing at the prison was used to detain IRA terrorists in the past and it was also used to house Iraqi prisoners during the Gulf War.

Now it is believed the wing, which was made redundant following the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, will again be used to detain suspected terrorists.

If the alleged plans go-ahead then it is believed the detention camp will be based on the US-run Camp X-Ray in Cuba's Guantanemo Bay, which currently holds seven Britons suspected of links with Osama Bin Laden's al- Qaida terrorist network.

Full Sutton houses infamous criminals, including mass murderer Dennis Nielsen, and killer and kidnapper Michael Sams.

Colin Moses, chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, said last night: "I am aware of media attention over this but we haven't been told formally and we have not been given any indication by the Prison Service.

"However, as a maximum security prison Full Sutton has been used to house IRA terrorists in the past and, if we are asked, we will do it again.

"If this does go ahead then we would expect all the resources made available to us to house any suspects because we cannot do something like that on the cheap."

Last night, a spokeswoman for the Prison Service denied that any plans were under way to use Full Sutton as a detention camp for al-Qaida suspects.

She said: "Despite interest from the Press, we have no idea where these rumours have come from."