A north Suffolk prison has received the seal of approval from inspectors who say the site has implemented a series of improvements following a previous critical report.

An inspection report published by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) says the category C Blundeston Prison, near Lowestoft, provides a good standard of care and regime for its 524 prisoners.

And the report goes on to say that the prison and its staff have overcome previous challenges which had seen it fail in a number of areas following an inspection by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

In a report published in July 2011, the inspectorate said significant numbers of prisoners feel unsafe, there was poor sanitation and services for foreign prisoners were poor.

But the latest IMB inspection report praises the governor and his staff for turning the prison around after an action plan was drawn up after the previous damning verdict of the HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

It also praises the prison's workshop, which scooped a national award for the training available to prisoners, a new anti-bullying strategy and how Blundeston Prison is involved in three separate programmes to tackle drug problems among inmates.

In the IMP report Michael Cadman says: 'The IMB would express the view Blundeston Prison provides a good standard of care and regime for the 524 prisoners accommodated there. Some very astute management by the governor and his senior staff management team, continued with the highly professional work of staff at all levels has worked to provide this good standard of care, in spite of the continuing reduction in funding due to the financial constraints imposed on the Prison Service by the government.