Some prisoners, who had initially queued up to be transferred to Kilmarnock Prison because of its facilities, resorted to violence on Wednesday evening.

In the latest of a series of incidents, inmates had control of an entire wing for two-and-a-half hours and staff, fearing for their own safety, pulled out and locked the 67 men inside.

The F Wing inmates had the run of their dining area, pool tables, TV room and showers.

Kilmarnock Prison has excellent facilities

The privately-run prison was expected to be a model prison that others would follow.

It has what is described as an American-style regime which has helped reduce the supply of drugs getting inside.

But on Wednesday riot police and firefighters ringed the £130m jail while the prisoners were monitored on closed circuit television.

It took until the early hours of Thursday morning for Premier Prison Service officials to get the men to return to their cells peacefully.

Labour MSP Margaret Jamieson has been trying to arrange a meeting with the prisoners to find out why there is so much unrest.

'Earlier incidents''

Mrs Jamieson said: "I have only just had a meeting with staff at the prison to discuss earlier incidents but I wasn't given the chance to speak to the prisoners.

"That is now my priority because we need to get to the bottom of what is happening.

"I have been assured that Premier Prison Services are conforming to their contract with the Scottish Prison Service but it might well be that the contract has to be changed.

Margaret Jamieson wants a meeting with prisoners

"When police and the Fire Brigade have to be called out then that is more cost to the public which gives me concern."

Within the last month inmates have reportedly spiked food with drugs in an incident that left 25 staff, including assistant director Stewart Yates, ill.

Prisoners' cells are more like university halls of residence but inmates have set fire to their bedding.

One prisoner needed 50 stitches after a brutal slashing and on Friday another man was knifed following the disappearance of 15 kitchen knives.

Closing cells'

The latest incident began around 2200BST as officers were closing cells.

But the men refused and then made threats against the staff, which prompted them to retreat.

A police spokesman said: "Staff left the wing for safety reasons and there was a total lockdown of all other inmates in the prison.

"A nominal number of police officers remained outside the prison and were not involved at any stage.

"After two-and-a-half hours senior prison officers negotiated the safe return of their prisoners to their cells.

"It was declared a level one situation which is regarded as a low priority incident."

The prison facilities include a full size floodlit football pitch, a 5,000-book library and state of the art gym.