PRISON officers staged a one-hour stoppage at the North-East's most high-profile jail yesterday.

Members of the Prison Officers' Association staged the walkout at Durham Prison in support of colleagues at Brixton, London.

The action - being described as unlawful by the Prison Service - affected jails around the country and is in protest at plans to market test the running of Brixton.

The POA believes market testing will lead to the jail being privatised, warning that this would lead to job losses and an increase in assaults on staff