ONE wing of a Kent prison has been evacuated after Legionella bacteria was found in the water system.

A spokesman for Maidstone Prison confirmed that prisoners had been moved after routine checks revealed traces of the bacteria.

The prison would not say how many prisoners had been moved but said all had been accommodated in other prisons.

It is believed that noone has been taken ill.

Maidstone Prison was re-rolled in October 2003, from a Category B closed men's prison (for inmates for whom escape must be made difficult) to a Category C closed men's prison, which prepares offenders for release or transfer to open conditions.

It currently has just under 600 inmates.