A PRISON reform campaigner was arrested outside a North-East jail as she staged the latest in a series of protests at inmate deaths.

Pauline Campbell, 56, of Malpas, Cheshire, was seized for allegedly causing a breach of the peace at Low Newton Prison and Young Offenders Institute, in Durham City, when she stood in front of a prison van.

She was taken to the city's police station and was released without charge.

Mrs Campbell, a trustee of the Howard League for Penal Reform, has been arrested eight times during previous demonstrations for trying to stop prison vehicles.

Her 18-year-old daughter, Sarah, died of a prescription drug overdose in Styal Prison, Cheshire, last year, after starting a three-year sentence for manslaughter.

Mrs Campbell believes that too many women, who are often vulnerable, are being locked up and are not receiving the care they need when they could be punished in the community.

Convicted drug dealer Rebecca Turner, 22, of York, was recently found hanged in her cell at Low Newton, which has just opened a reception centre to ease new inmates into prison life.

There were no suspicious circumstances and an inquest will be held.

The dead woman's family, including her mother, Janet, went to the jail to support Mrs Campbell.

Claire Wade said her sister was popular and had many friends.

Ms Wade said there should have been more checks on her sister because all women prisoners were vulnerable and had low self-esteem because they were taken from their family and friends.

Mrs Campbell said afterwards it was her eighth arrest and that she was facing two separate trials on charges of obstructing the highway at other prisons.

"It was a very successful protest," she said.

"While women prisoners continue to die, I will continue to demonstrate.''

Low Newton governor Dave Thompson has said the death, the jail's first in seven years, hit staff and other prisoners hard.