By Andrew Napier and Rachel Adams

SERIOUS disturbances have rocked Winchester Prison including two assaults on staff.

Prison staff have battled to retain control with inmates reporting of being locked in their cells for three days, inadequately fed and unable to wash.

yesterday the Daily Echo photographed staff entering the jail with riot shields.

But the Ministry of Justice denied a prisoner's claims that control has been lost of three of the prison four wings.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice saidtoday (THURS): “HMP Winchester is running a temporary restricted regime to maintain a safe and secure environment.

"It is untrue that prison staff lost control of three wings – staff remained in control at all times."

The spokeswoman said an 'incident' was successfully resolved by staff on Tuesday with no injuries to staff or prisoners. She declined to give any further detail.

A fire service spokesman said there had been two small fires at the prison. "One was at 10.46pm on Tuesday August 29 and the other was at 12.45am on August 30. These were extinguished by staff and we were not required at either incident."

However, an inmate from Southampton told the Daily Echo that Winchester was the "worst jail" he has ever ever been in, and that he was being "treated like a dog".

The 30-year-old from Townhill, serving time for assault, said inmates are not being given medication correctly, aren’t being fed properly and have not been allowed to shower for up to four days.

He said: “In 72 hours we haven’t had any time out of our cells. It’s against the law. There have been two fires in B wing on Monday and Tuesday – I’m on a different wing and I saw smoke billowing out of the roof. But people weren’t let out of their cells so they’ve been suffering from smoke inhalation.”

He said inmates were told about the changes to their daily routine in a letter they received this week. It said: “From August 19 there will be changes to the core day to provide a safe and decent regime which allows you to have more time for domestics including showers and phone calls.”

But he added that the changes had already been brought in two days earlier.

He said: “We’ve got a sink in our cell but it’s got silver fish flapping in it. It’s so damp here. I thought jail was meant to rehabilitate you but it’s making me ill.

“In the 15 years I’ve spend in HMPs up and down the country I have never had anything like this. They are saying they are short staffed but it’s against the law.

“I was let out on Monday at about 8am to go down and get my breakfast. We have got a sink in our cell but the last time I had a shower was on Monday. It’s disgusting. I’m being treated like a dog. It’s as if they want this place burnt to the ground – and they want us to do it.”

He added that inmates have smashed the windows on their cells and thrown TVs out of them – but the mess isn’t cleared up so those who are let out of their cells are made to walk through the debris.

He said: “Inmates have chucked rubbish out on the landing. We got fed at 8pm yesterday, Wednesday, night. It’s meant to be a hot meal but we just got a baguette. I’m a growing man and I’m getting well under my daily intake of calories.

“One of my friends is bi-polar and he’s not been given his medication on the right days.”

He added: “It seems that as soon as one person kicks off they use that one little incident to have have everyone behind doors.”

A police spokesman said: "We were called to reports of assaults on two members of staff at the prison on Monday 28 August. Investigations are ongoing."

The Prison Officers' Association was unavailable for comment.

John Tainton, chairman of the Independent Monitoring Board, the prison watchdogs, said: "Sorry, no comment. Thanks a lot, bye".

In the past the POA have raised concerns about reduced staffing levels.

An IMB report highlighted concerns about inmate safety and bullying inside the jail. Its latest report in November 2016 said: "Reduced staffing levels, greater drug misuse and lack of investment at Her Majesty’s Prison Winchester, have led to an increase in disorder and violence, a decrease in standards of decency and hygiene and means that the prison is not able to function effectively, say independent observers."

The jail dates back to 1846 and is currently Category B Local prison that serves the local courts, with a small 129 bed Category C Resettlement Unit, named Westhill.

Winchester has an operational capacity of 690 and, since 2013, has also taken on men from the age of 18 upwards.