Fury at prison golf course

Derek Lewis, director general of the Prison Service, was last night said to be "furious" after one of his governors attempted to create a £40,000 golf course within the grounds of a jail.

Ron Tasker, who is in charge of Swalesdale Prison on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, put the proposal for a six-hole course out to tender before senior prison officials killed the idea as "totally unacceptable". It is the latest in a series of embarrassing slip-ups to beset the service.

A Prison Office spokeswoman said that when Mr Lewis found out about the course "he was absolutely furious". She said he will be meeting Mr Tasker next week to discuss the situation.