AN MP has called for a meeting with the governor of a Dorset prison after pictures emerged of inmates showing off smuggled steaks and takeaways.

The pictures, taken on an illegally-possessed mobile phone, also appear to depict drug possession and show groups of men gloating about their lifestyle behind bars.

North Dorset MP Simon Hoare said he is "very concerned" about the images which have emerged from Guys Marsh, near Shaftesbury, and said he will be seeking an urgent meeting with the governor, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons and government ministers.

Mr Hoare told the Daily Echo: "Recent reports have put significant question marks over Guys Marsh and I hope to set up meetings at the earliest opportunity to find out what the governor needs to make things better."

When the Category C prison was last inspected, Chief Inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick said: "HMP Guys Marsh stands out as an establishment of great concern.

"Turning the prison round will take sustained support from the Prison Service nationally. The failures of the prison at the time of the inspection posed unacceptable risks to the public, staff and prisoners and this cannot be allowed to continue."

The images were made public when a man came forward to say he had been added to Facebook by one of the inmates.

The man, a builder who does not want to be named, said he does not know the prisoner and said the inmates appear to be "living like students."

Some images show syringes and what appears to be drugs. There are images of wads of cash and some of inmates cooking omelettes and fried eggs.

The pictures have emerged in a turbulent week for the Ministry of Justice after it was forced to obtain a High Court injunction to order staff back to work after a mass walkout over health and safety fears.

A Prison Service spokesperson said of the images: "This behaviour is unacceptable. We will be referring this matter to the police for investigation and have had the social media profiles removed.

"We are stepping up measures to find and block mobile phones in prisons and those found with them face extra time behind bars."

It is believed that four of the six prisoners who were pictured in the social media posts have been moved to other prisons.