A PRISON officer has been treated in hospital for a suspected fractured jaw after being assaulted by a Long Lartin inmate.

The Vale man was injured during an incident at the prison last Sunday evening when a number of prisoners refused to be locked into their cells for the night.

He was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital and is expected to be off work for some weeks.

"Following the attack, the incident was subject to a negotiated conclusion," said deputy governor John Huntington. "This was an unusual occurrence and a totally unprovoked attack which has been referred to the police for investigation," he added.