A 32-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assault after two prison officers were allegedly punched at Elmley prison has been bailed until February.

The incident, which left a third guard with a broken leg, is reported to have happened at Elmley on Tuesday night.

The officer with a broken leg was taken to hospital, along with another guard who was suffering from concussion.

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police is investigating a disturbance at a prison on the Isle of Sheppey reported to have taken place on 30 December.

"A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault."

Speaking after the alleged assault, Steve Gillan, general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, said: "Elmley has been identified as a problem prison and one that's in crisis.

"It's in crisis because they can't recruit prison officers and are having to rely on people being shipped in from other establishments to bring it up to safe staffing levels.

"The prison service are aware of the issues at Elmley and are trying to take remedial action to sort it out, but it does remain very difficult at Elmley for my members who're on the receiving end of some very horrific assaults."

The incident comes just days after a prison officer was taken to hospital following an alleged assault at the same jail.

The officer was allegedly punched and stamped on by an inmate on December 23. He has since been discharged from hospital.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “We will never tolerate violence against our staff and anyone who is violent towards them – or anyone else in the prison – can expect to face severe consequences.

"Elmley has been identified as a problem prison and one that's in crisis" - MoJ spokesman

“This incident has been referred to the police and an investigation is taking place.

“We will always press for the most serious charges possible to be laid.”

Earlier this month inmates were removed from Elmley as the Ministry of Justice attempted to avoid trouble at the prison over the festive season.

And extra officers from as far away as Preston were brought in over the Christmas period to cover staff absence at Kent prisons including Elmley.

The prison received a damning report this year from HM Inspector of Prisons, highlighting understaffing, drug abuse and violence.

In November, Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons, said Elmley needed to recruit more staff “as a matter of urgency.”