A youth prison inmates' phone line to the Samaritans was used an average of 10 times a week, a report has revealed.

Almost 240 calls to the charity, which provides support to those in distress or at risk of suicide, were made in just six months at Rochester Young Offenders' Institute.

A report by the government's prison inspection team shows three prisoners trained as "listeners" were also called out almost 300 times in 2010, to discuss fellow inmates' problems.

The trio, who meet with the Samaritans every two weeks, voiced concerns over access to help for "those in crisis".

A direct line to the Samaritans is located on every wing, but the report said: "Some staff used the Samaritans telephones rather than allow a listener access."

As reported in Friday's Messenger, the report painted a less than favourable view of HMP Rochester, when we also revealed that adults are to be held at the prison.

Inspectors discovered inmates were allowed out of their cells for only one hour a day, while many opted to just stay in bed.

More than half the prisoners had sentences of more than two years - and more than half had been inside before.

The institute's H wing was closed for refurbishment just three years after opening and most cells were "unkempt", with damaged floors and toilets as well as pornography on the walls.

Most prisoners felt safe, but there were still 20 fights or assaults a month in 2010. Staff used force 320 times in the past year and drew batons twice. One in 10 prisoners were strip-searched after every visit, a figure described as inappropriate.

On the plus side, racist incidents had more than halved from 118 in 2009, to 52 in 2010.