A report has claimed that a young offenders' institution in Oxfordshire is failing in eight key areas.

Huntercombe at Nuffield in south Oxfordshire is for boys aged 15-18 but is failing in its "central purpose", a report by the Independent Monitoring Board has said. But the report did go on to praise prison staff and the institution's approach to race relations.

The report, for the period July 2005 to December 2006, said: "There is currently no programme in place to tackle offending behaviour.

"Young people regularly arrive at the prison late at night after long waits in court cells.

"Young people with serious mental health issues continue to be sent to Huntercombe despite the fact that the prison does not have the facilities or resources to treat them."

The report also criticised the long distances families had to travel to make visits to the institution which houses 360 boys aged 15 to 18.

Young people are arriving at the prison as late as midnight which is both distressing and potentially dangerous for prisoners.

The report did commend the prison in a number of areas including its record on race relations, the commitment of its mental health workers and prison staff, and the institution's multi-disciplinary approach.

It said: "The environment is generally safe, despite the huge numbers of young people which Huntercombe has to manage."