A NORTH-EAST prison officer has been sacked for wearing Nazi symbols to work, the Prison Service said last night.

The officer was reported to jail bosses by shocked colleagues when he clocked on wearing tie pins displaying a Swastika and a German SS badge, the service said.

Bosses said they had warned him not to wear the fascist insignia at Frankland Prison in Durham.

A Prison Service spokesman said he had refused to comply.

Governor Ivor Woods initially suspended the officer, and a disciplinary hearing was held.

Following the meeting, the service confirmed he was dismissed earlier this week.

Last night, the officer, who has not been named, was understood to be planning an appeal against his dismissal.

The Director General of the Prison Service Martin Narey said last night: ''An officer at HMP Frankland has been dismissed for displaying racist insignia at work.

''I would like to congratulate the governor for investigating this and dealing with it so promptly.

''I have said on many occasions that there is no place for racists in the Prison Service.

''Overt racist behaviour or membership of racist organisations will lead to dismissal.''

Earlier this year, Mr Narey revealed he had received threatening mail, probably from within the Prison Service, after he said there was institutional racism in Britain's jails.

He said the letters, which were passed on to the police for investigation, were ''extremely offensive'' and contained personal threats.