Prison guards 'bet on cell fights'

Police are investigating claims that prison officers set up "Gladiator-style" fights between black and white inmates and then placed bets on the outcome.

Guards at Feltham Young Offender Institution are said to have made black and white youths share a cell and then bet their wages on how long it would be before a fight started.

They are also accused of locking up sex offenders with inmates who have suffered sexual abuse and betting on whether they would attack each other.

Prison Service director-general Phil Wheatley is said to have launched an investigation.

The game is said to be called "Gladiators" or "Colosseum" after the bloodthirsty spectacles in Roman days, The Sun reported.

The Prison Service has called in Scotland Yard after a witness is reported to have come forward with "specific" details of the alleged brawls following a covert intelligence operation.

The allegations come as the public inquiry into the death of Asian teenager Zahid Mubarek, who was beaten to death at Feltham by his racist cellmate, got under way this week.