SCORES of police converged on Rochester Prison after young inmates ran riot, taking a prison officer hostage and wrecking their wing. Trouble flared just before 8pm last night when a group of young offenders in the remand wing overpowered staff and went on the rampage.

One officer was locked in a cell until the early hours of this morning when specialist negotiators finally broke down the barricade at about 4am. Meanwhile, the Prison Service's Tornado Response Team, which is specially trained in control and restraint, was called in to help quell the disturbance.

The warder was taken to hospital with cuts and bruises to his head but his condition is not thought to be serious.

Eight of the ring-leaders, aged between 18 and 21, were being questioned by detectives this morning at Chatham Police Station. The cause of outbreak has not been confirmed but it is believed it could have been sparked off by a change in regime.

The disturbance took place in B-wing, which is separate from the main prison, but not all of the 63 young offenders detained there were involved.

A Prison Service spokesman said that a full inquiry was under way. Police were told to stand down from the incident just after the wing was stormed this morning.