INMATES at a Teesside prison have scooped 13 arts awards for painting and creative writing.

Following a record number of entries, six inmates in Holme House prison, in Stockton, won awards for their artwork and seven for their plays, poetry and prose.

The Arthur Koestler awards were set up in 1961 to encourage creativity among prisoners.

While they are inside, the prison offers inmates the chance to try art and writing, developing skills for the outside world.

Mike Mandiville-Flanagan, 29, scooped the BBC radio drama first prize for his short play, The Hunger, which took him about four weeks to write.

He said: "I have been in and out of jail since I was in my teens and have always enjoyed writing, but doing a course in creative writing has given me a platform.

"I was told I was good so it gave me an incentive to carry on with the writing."

Mr Mandiville-Flanagan hopes that his play will be broadcast on BBC radio, and that the award will give him the incentive to stay out of trouble.

Another prison inmate, 27-year-old Craig Jones, who is a keen artist, also entered the Koestler awards.

He takes art classes every day at the prison and hopes to draw portraits and frame them for customers when he is released in February.

He said: "I would never have known about this talent I had for art before I took these classes."

Holme House's writer-in-residence, Andy Croft, said: "I'm pleased for the lads, but I can't say I am surprised.

"Writing belongs to everyone, not just to people from public schools. Good writing happens everywhere, and this place is full of good writers.