Two prison officers were injured today during a disturbance.

The incident happened at about 5pm in Littlehey prison, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

A Prison Service spokesman said: “A number of prisoners at HMP Littlehey refused to return to their cells following an incident in which two staff were injured.

“Prisoners are contained securely within one wing and do not have the run of the prison. Specially-trained prison staff are on their way to the prison. No fires have been reported and staff were treated at the prison.”

The spokesman added that four or five prisoners “were actively involved at the moment”, but he could not say how they were involved.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) said up to 60 prisoners were involved in the disturbance.

Colin Moses, national chairman of the POA, said he believed the female officer was knocked unconscious.

He said: “They were trying to bring [the disturbance] back under control. Young offenders were acting in a violent way.”

A Prison Officers Association spokesman said the incident happened in the young offenders unit, where he believes 200 to 300 people are housed.

He said: “I believe one member of staff was scalded with hot water. The other was assaulted.”

They were both treated in the prison’s hospital, but have been discharged.

He added that there have been problems at the prison, including brawls and assaults, for the past 12 months.

Specialist officers are bringing the situation under control, he said.