A prison officer has been suspended following claims a guard had sex with female inmates.

An investigation has begun into the allegations at Bullwood Hall jail in Hockley -- the setting for last year's ITV documentary The Real Bad Girls.

Prison chiefs will investigate whether drugs were smuggled in and plan to question inmates on a single wing.

Police have also been called in.

A Prison Service spokesman said: "I can confirm an employee was suspended for inappropriate behaviour."

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