A disturbance which broke out at Sheppey's HMP Elmley last night has been brought under control.

Specialist officers from the prison's Tornado team were called to deal with an issue of "concerted indiscipline" in one wing of the prison.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the incident between fellow inmates which involved "chair-throwing" was "concluded" at 11.45pm.

He said there were no injuries to prisoners or staff and there was "minimal damage" caused to cells.

None of the other areas of the prison were affected, the spokesman confirmed.

"The prison will carry out an investigation with a view to taking action against those responsible," he said.

Last night's incident follows the death of Elmley prisoner Levi Smith, who was found dead in his cell on Wednesday.

The news came on the same day the prison received a damning report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons following an unannounced inspection.

It found increasing rates of assault, drug abuse and suicide at HMP Elmley, which have been blamed on staff shortages.

Like neighbouring HMP Swaleside, the prison is seriously understaffed, with inmates locked in cells for up to 23 hours a day because there are no officers to supervise work or education.

Smith, 41, was the seventh prisoner to die at Elmley in the last year.