Prisons minister Lord Williams of Mostyn visited Bullwood Hall prison in Hockley - and promised to return next year to check on progress, after a whistle-stop tour.

The minister spent about an hour at the women's prison, chatting to inmates taking fashion and hairdressing courses there as part of their rehabilitation.

The visit came 18 months after a report was published condemning the prison and the conditions in which its 140 inmates are kept.

Serious incidents highlighted in the report included assaults on staff, gang fights and illicit drug dealing.

Speaking at the prison, Lord Williams praised the efforts of new governor Viv Hart. He said: "It's always difficult to turn a prison around. What has impressed me is the effort that the new governor is making.

"She is working very hard with the staff and a difficult range of offenders, to run the prison. It is not perfect, but it is on its way up.

"Why don't we all come back this time next year to see how things are going?"

The minister praised the vocational courses which have been running at the prison for several years.

He added: "It is so important that we get these people decent jobs when they come out of prison, which is what these workshops are all about."

"There is so much potential here. Unless we can get them kick-started, then we will end up with young women coming back year after year."

Inmates learn a number of skills on the fashion course, including designing and sewing.

Tutor Angela Smith, said: "We usually take about 12 at a time and they can do courses lasting anything from three months to three years.

"Over the years we have had about a dozen girls who have done the course and taken it up at a local college when they have left."

There are currently 12 girls taking part on the full time hairdressing course, where they learn a variety of different cuts and techniques.

More than mailbags - Lord Williams watches inmates Adele Merritt, 20 and Helen Pollen, 19 at work in the fashion room

Picture: NICK ANSELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.