A ROOFTOP prison protest at Winchester Prison was "resolved" last night.

Emergency services, including police, fire and ambulance were called to the category B prison in Romsey Road yesterday afternoon.

A prison service spokesman later confirmed that the “incident had been resolved” by 8.30pm but refused to provide any more details.

In these situations, nationally-based specialist task teams are called in to remove inmates.

A source had previously said: “The prisoner is being disruptive, violent and breaking things off.”

Initially a Prison Service spokesman said: “There is an ongoing incident at height at HMP Winchester involving one prisoner, who gained access to a roof at around 3.30pm. Specialist staff are at the scene working to bring the situation to a safe conclusion,” he said.

The inmate, who has not been named, was on a relatively low roof of a modern building not on the high roof in the Victorian part of the prison.

A fire engine, ambulance and four vans, believed to be prison service vehicles, were parked outside the prison.

An anonymous caller said there was a “rooftop protest” being held by an inmate unhappy at the length of time he has spent in the jail. The Ministry of Justice declined to comment on that.