The Home Office is suing ITN for £300,000 after it broadcast close-up footage of a set of cell keys.

Prison bosses claim the programme caused a major security breach at Feltham Young Offenders' Institution in West London.

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They said copies of the keys could be made from the footage, and claimed every lock in the jail has had to be changed at a cost of £298,595 to the taxpayer.

The programme, a report on the racist murder of 19-year-old Zahid Mubarek, was broadcast on June 29 last year.

All media must sign a contract when entering a jail promising not to show footage of keys or locks because expert locksmiths can make copies from material such as a photograph.

It is believed ITN offered the Government £10,000 to settle the case.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We can confirm the Home Office has taken out legal proceedings against ITN to recover costs for the relock at Feltham Young Offenders' Institution in June 2006."

An ITN spokesman said: "The matter is ongoing and we don't think it is appropriate to comment at this stage."