THREE hundred jobs are up for grabs at the controversial prison under construction near Prestwich.

A hot-line has been set up to deal with the expected clamour for vacancies which are open to men and women and include prison custody officers, auxiliaries, maintenance operatives, workshop instructors and teachers.

HMP Forest Bank, Agecroft, will receive its first male prisoners in January 2000 and will cater for 800 Category B adults and young offenders.

The company UKDS was chosen by the Government last year to run the prison for 25 years. It manages HMP Blakenhurst at Redditch, recently described by Sir David Ramsbotham, the chief inspector of prisons, as a "can do prison".

Local people are in demand for the jobs.

Mr Herb Nahapiet, UKDS chief executive, said: "A prison is a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, 52-weeks-a-year operation and it makes good sense for staff to live locally. "We are looking for a very special sort of person, who shares our philosophy and approach, and is prepared to work to improve prisoners' opportunities. These are challenging and interesting career openings for high-calibre, well-motivated and balanced people."

All new staff will receive intensive training.

Mr Nahapiet added: "As an equal opportunities employer, we shall particularly welcome applications from the ethnic communities."

Plans to build the prison on the site of the former Agecroft Power Station caused an uproar when they were first announced five years ago.

The then Bury South MP David Sumberg and local councillors hit out at the decision to house rapists, murderers and child molesters close to the homes of residents in Rainsough. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott eventually approved the scheme in 1997 after Salford City Council threw out the application.

Councillor Derek Boden, leader of Bury Council, welcomed the jobs and said: "When the council accepted there was going to be a new prison in this area we insisted, along with Salford Council, that Agecroft should be properly planned so as not to do any more damage than absolutely necessary to the Irwell Valley.

"We also insisted that there should be employment opportunities for the local people and I am pleased that those opportunities are now starting to materialise."

People can call the jobs hot-line on 0161 912 8930 (weekdays) or 0845 6060 234 (Saturdays am).

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