A NATIONAL watchdog has hit out at the Government over delays to replace kitchens at a Tardebigge prison, saying they need to cut through red tape and get on with it.

The Board of Visitors at Hewell Grange open prison, near Bromsgrove, published its report this month claiming the kitchens, which will be shared with Brockhill women's prison, are a health risk and something needs to be done.

The board is also worried that not enough money is forthcoming to support prisoner rehabilitation programmes, which is seen as an important part of an open prison's job.

The board says Hewell Grange can only be a bridge between custody and a return to the community if it offers a full range of rehabilitative programmes aimed at avoiding repeat offending by prisoners.