A prisoner escaped injury after setting his cell on fire at Downview Prison in Banstead on Friday.

Fire fighters from Epsom and Purley were called to the prison at about 1.30pm on Friday, November 11, after reports of a fire.

It is believed the inmate deliberately set fire to his bedding and mattress.

A spokesperson from Epsom fire station said: “Because of human rights prison officers are not allowed to take smoking materials off them so prisoners have access to those things.

“So it’s quite easy to set their cell on fire.”

The man was uninjured and was not taken to hospital.