Over 30 officers at Maidstone prison stopped work for health and safety reasons today, according to the Prison Officers Association.

It said 35 of its members withdrew themselves from work at around 8am over a dispute involving staff safety and pay following an assault on a female colleague in April this year.

Officers were called to deal with the disturbance which involved around 40 inmates and left the officer requiring surgery.

It is thought the dispute concerned the female officer who was reportedly on half pay after returning to work following her injury.

The prison service said the assaulted officer received a letter in error, which said she would be placed on half pay and that her wages were never reduced.

However, general secretary of the POA, Steve Gillan said: "This wasn't a computer error they were putting our member on half pay and only solid action by Maidstone members made them have a re think."

He said the officers occupied the prison’s visitors hall and that there were a number of ongoing issues staff were concerned about.

He added: “It’s fair to say there is a dispute involving staff safety and detailed discussions are ongoing between our departments and the governor.

"The officers feel there is a real issue which needs addressing and stayed in the hall until it was resolved."

Mr Gillan said the health and safety issued had now been resolved to the "satisfaction of the local branch members, and they have returned to normal working.

"I am pleased that a sensible negotiation has concluded and that common sense was applied that stopped one of our members following an assault going onto half pay."

The Category C jail in County Road has a capacity of 600 inmates, all of whom are foreign nationals.

More to follow.