ERLESTOKE Prison governor Jayne Blake has survived a no-confidence vote by her staff and criticisms from a coroner after an inmate hanged himself.

Now prison inspectors have put every aspect of her regime under the microscope in an unannounced three day visit.

The team's findings were released this week and conclude that the prison is clearly improving and has made major moves forward.

However, it also highlighted problem areas including pressure on night patrol staff, poor food and complaints about prisoners' lack of privacy using the telephones.

The inspectors found committed staff who had good relationships with inmates, good sentencing planning, and improved public protection procedures.

The poor state of the Wren unit, where inmates go when they first arrive at Erlestoke, was criticised, but it has now been completely renovated.

Colin Allen, deputy chief inspector of prisons, said Ms Blake was improving standards at the prison on a tight budget.

He said: "This is a positive report, which reflects credit on many people. I hope that the further recommendations, and the new initiatives, will result in even better treatment of and conditions for prisoners sent to Erlestoke, provided no more savings are demanded of a barely adequate budget."

However, the inspection team severely criticised the kitchens and catering service.

The report said: "We received many complaints from prisoners regarding the food. Complaints were of poor quality, perceived low nutritional value and the lack of choice for prisoners on special diets. We generally concurred with them."

Prisoners used their own money to buy extra food, and did not bother filling out complaint forms because they were ignored.

The report said: "Wing staff confirmed that catering staff rarely visited the units and did not consult prisoners or the food complaints book.

"We were told the kitchen had recently been inspected and was found to be the fifth worst in that round of inspections. Cleanliness and safety was poor.

"Immediate measures should be taken to improve the state of cleanliness and safety in the kitchen."

Another major concern was that night patrol staff did not carry emergency kits, with scissors, in case of an attempted suicide.

If a prisoner was found to have tried to kill himself, the officer had to return to his office for the kit.

The inspectors found staff were reluctant to enter cells alone at night, even if an inmate was believed to have attempted suicide.

An open verdict into the death of inmate Paul Cook, who hanged himself in his cell in July 2000, had left warders worried they could face legal action.

The team said it was vital night staff carried emergency kits and were given suicide prevention training and somewhere to discuss their concerns openly.

Most complaints from inmates centred on the food and lack of privacy using the telephones.

Rickie, 23, from Portsmouth, is almost half way through a 14-month sentence. He works in the kitchen and believes the problem with the food is poor ingredients.

He said: "They are buying in bulk and it is cheap stuff. We have only just started getting decent onions. We used to get huge bags and we'd have to throw most away because they'd gone off."

Rickie relies on his regular calls to his girlfriend and young daughter to get him through his sentence.

He said: "The most important thing to me is using the phone. There is no privacy and people can hear what you are saying."

Ms Blake said many of the improvements recommended in the report were already planned or underway when the team visited.

She said: "This report is very positive and shows very much the work the staff and prisoners are doing together. Staff have taken on the challenge of dealing with prisoners in 2001. Tremendous work has gone on and this report reflects the modern way in which we are dealing with prisoners in today's society."

Rehabilitating inmates so they can live an honest life, without re-offending, is a priority at Erlestoke.

Ms Blake continued: "We are trying to make prisoners into better citizens."

Ms Blake would not comment on the no-confidence vote but Jerry Petherick, south west area manager, said some people always found change difficult, but that the prison had moved on since then.

He said: "When someone comes in and sees that lots of changes have to be made and moves it forward, that can be popular with some and not others.

"This establishment has changed enormously, and this positive report should be celebrated."