A prison has banned porridge because it's deemed to be a 'security risk' that could be used to 'block up' door locks.

Inmates at privately-run men's HM Prison Parc in Bridgend, in south Wales, have complained how they can't purchase porridge from the jail's canteen list.

One prisoner, called Stephen Bruno, said he'd been told by staff about the porridge ban.

Porridge has been banned at a prison because it's thought to be a security risk

One prisoner said Ronnie Barker, who played Norman Stanley Fletcher in BBC sitcom Porridge would be 'turning in his grave'

Writing in Inside Time, the national newspaper for prisoners, in the latest May edition out this week, he wrote: 'Here at Parc we have been told that we cannot purchase porridge from the canteen as it is a security risk.

'They claim it could be used to block up door locks.'

He said prisoners could still buy the porridge-like cereal Ready Brek from the canteen 'tuck shop' but that porridge was no longer being served.

He added: 'Porridge was served in prison for over a century, hence doing time in prison was known 'doing a bit of porridge', so it seems incredible that they will not serve it for breakfast here for the same reasons.

Prisoners said they were still able to buy the porridge-like cereal Ready Brek (pictured)

'Instead we get chocolate covered rice crisps on a daily basis - how crazy is this rule?'

One former prisoner, who asked not to be named, said porridge was a 'prison staple' and that Ronnie Barker - who starred in BBC1's hit sitcom Porridge in the 1970s - would be 'turning in his grave'.

He said: 'It seems doing a bit of porridge is now doing a bit or Ready Brek. Ronnie Barker would be turning in his grave.'

Janet Wallsgrove, director of the G4S-run prison, confirmed porridge was 'not available in the prison shop', although she didn't explain why.

She said today: 'While porridge is not available in the prison shop, and hasn't been for many years, Ready Brek (an alternative to porridge) is on offer for prisoners to buy.'