A PRISON scheme that gets inmates interested in education through sport has won a national award.

The physical education department at the high-security Frankland Prison, on the outskirts of Durham City, is one of the region's organisations to receive the Charter Mark for quality service.

The jail's nine PE officers have developed a programme to encourage prisoners, many of whom lack basic skills, to exercise their minds and not their muscles when they visit the gym.

The scheme, which has run for 18 months, has led to increased use of the gym, and to some inmates gaining key skills qualifications.

The aim is to give the prisoners skills to allow them to find employment on their release, which could cut reoffending rates.

Principal PE officer Gary Hassan said: "Over the years, we have learned to use the popularity of the gym as a way to educate prisoners. We have had to look away from the traditional ways of teaching because many people are not interested."

The scheme encourages prisoners to develop skills such as reading and writing, mathematics, communication and leadership through activities in the gym.

For example, mathematics can be developed by making calculations connected with weightlifting or by counting the number of balls in an over of cricket.

Last year, Frankland's drug recovery unit, which aims to break the link between drugs and crime, won a Charter Mark.

The prison's governor, Ivor Woods, said: "The Charter Mark is a tribute to the hard work and high-quality service provided by our staff."

Gus Macdonald, Minister for the Cabinet Office, which oversees the Charter Mark, said: "The battle for world-class public services will be won on the front-line by public servants like the Charter Mark winners who are willing and able to consult customers and to make improvements in the way they work. This positive change doesn't happen because Whitehall says so. It is down to the spirit of enterprise and personal initiative of the people on the ground.

"Each Charter Mark winner has faced its own unique challenge in providing a better service for the customer."

An independent panel judges Charter Mark applications. Awards last for three years.