A regional daily’s exposé into conditions at a privately-run prison has sparked calls for the institution to be brought under government control.

The Manchester Evening News has uncovered allegations of widespread drug use and inmates who “run the wings” at Salford’s Forest Bank Prison.

The MEN also published claims that inmates brew their own hooch and that “unsafe” staff at the jail can be “left to guard 100-plus inmates” at a time, as well as having to buy their own uniform due to cost-cutting measures.

For its investigation, the MEN ran claims from a whistleblower, an ex-prisoner and his father and the family of a grandfather who died in his cell.

The probe has now sparked calls from two Labour politicians – Salford and Eccles MP Rebecca Long-Bailey and Salford city mayor Paul Dennett – for the Ministry of Justice to cancel a billion-pound contract it has with Sodexo to run the prison.

In a joint letter, they said: “We are writing to request an urgent investigation into these reports of mismanagement with resultant report to be made publicly available.

“We also request a formal response on how much of the action plan referred to above has been implemented and if it has been fully implemented a detailed explanation as to why these issues seem to persist?

“We would also be grateful if you would meet with us at the earliest opportunity to discuss what action the Government is taking to ensure the immediate safety of staff and inmates.

“Further, if the recent reports are indeed confirmed by your investigation, then it would In our view be prudent for the prison to brought under Government control with immediate effect.”

The MEN previously exposed drug use and bizarre behaviour at the facility in 2016, prompting a pledge by the prison to introduce body scanners.

A Prison Service spokesperson told the MEN: “Privately-run prisons are among the best performing across the estate and have been consistently praised by independent inspectors.”