A riot at an open prison in England was brought under control after a New Year’s Day rampage by inmates thought to have been sparked by attempts to breathalyse them to check for contraband alcohol.

A riot at an English prison was triggered after some prisoners refused to be breathalysed for alcohol, according to Mark Freeman, deputy general secretary of the UK Prison Officers Association.

Specialist officers had to be called in today after about 40 prisoners began a riot and set alight an open prison in Britain, according to the Ministry of Justice.

EX-MI5 agent David Shayler, who was jailed in Britain for breaching the Official Secrets Act, vowed to fight to clear his name after leaving prison on early release yesterday.

Former MI5 officer David Shayler, who was jailed for breaching the Official Secrets Act, has vowed to "fight on" to clear his name when he left jail on early release.