FORTY-TWO prisoners at Sheppey's Swaleside prison barricaded themselves into a television room during a dispute on New Year's Eve. A Prison Service spokeswoman said the incident began during the evening at Delta Wing when inmates complained that their washing machine and toaster needed mending.

They also demanded television sets in their cells at the prison at Eastchurch. The spokeswoman said the dispute, which lasted seven hours from 7.55pm, ended peacefully after negotiations with prison staff. No one was hurt.

Two pumps from Sheerness fire station were called to the prison when inmates set off fire alarms during the dispute. Some of the firefighters remained there on standby until 3am.

Police officers were also called to the jail as a precaution.