Officers from as far away as Preston will be brought in over the Christmas period to cover staff absence at the county's overstretched prisons.

Swaleside and Elmley in Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey will be taking officers from across the UK to cover staff shortages in December, and five officers will be brought in from Sussex to cover at Medway's Cookham Wood young offenders institution.

All three institutions have been criticised for inadequate staffing and Elmley has seen nine suicides so far this year.

Plans seen by the Howard League for Penal Reform indicate more than 230 prison officers nationwide are being asked to work in other prisons in the run-up to Christmas as governors across England and Wales face a major staffing crisis.

A specific document outlines staffing cover on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

This indicates about 56 officers will be asked to work in other prisons on these bank holidays, and suggests some will be required to work in prisons more than 60 miles away.

Prison officers on 'detached duty', as it is known, can cost the tax payer up to £500 extra a week.

Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “This provides evidence for a system under extreme stress. Taxpayers’ money is being squandered on shoring up a failing system.

“Prisons holding children are being asked to release staff and drive them up and down motorways to help out at adult jails facing an emergency over the holidays.

“Politicians must accept responsibility for the chaos their policies are inflicting on the prison service, on staff and on the public.”

In November staffing shortages at Elmley prison were highlighted in a damning report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons following an unannounced inspection.

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

Like neighbouring HMP Swaleside, understafing is having a serious impact on the safety of both officers and inmates, with many prisoners locked in cells for up to 23 hours a day because there are no officers to supervise work or education.