A GROUP of Winchester prison officers had to be treated in hospital after inhaling the fumes of a Class B drug.

Following two incidents involving inmates smoking spice on Sunday (December 15), six staff members were treated at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital just a stone's throw away.

One prisoner was also hospitalised due to spice exposure.

A Prison Service spokesman said: "Drug use in prisons is not tolerated, particularly when it prevents our hardworking staff from doing their jobs safely.

"We are investing £100 million, as part of a wider £2.75 billion programme, to improve prison security and the prisoners involved in these incidents will be punished."

All officers were discharged from hospital the same evening and four of the six were back at work the following day.

The spokesman added: "Body scanners are being introduced to help prevent the flow of drugs into prisons."