Prisoners in Lewes eat their dinner sat on toilets, live in inadequate cells and are often released with nowhere to go, an official report has revealed.

The idea that life behind bars is all Sky TV and games consoles is a misconception at Lewes prison.

Instead the jail suffers from a poor environment, with insufficient activity for inmates but remains safe, according to a report released today by Anne Owers, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons.

The Prison Reform Trust, a charity aiming for a just, humane and effective penal system, branded the report a disappointment and said it showed a struggling prison.

The study, based on a five day inspection in August last year, reveals cells in one wing of the jail were "barely fit for habitation" and needed urgent refurbishment.

Inspectors found it was not uncommon for prisoners to be forced to sit on toilets to eat their meals and that through poor planning, one in four prisoners was released from the prison with nowhere to live.

Mrs Owers said there were some weaknesses in anti-bullying and suicide prevention strategies at the prison but that on the whole vulnerable prisoners felt safe.

In the main, health services at the jail are improving but the report flagged up gaps and deficiencies in inpatient care and in primary mental health services.

Activity places are not filled and learning and skills provision is inadequate, inspectors found. They did say however that prisoners had reasonable amounts of time out of their cells.

The prison was praised for its good contacts with voluntary and community groups and for its drug and alcohol work.

Mrs Owers said relationships between staff and prisoners were the prison's greatest strength, and that there was evidence staff knew about and engaged with the prisoners in their care.

Eoin McLennan-Murray, the governor of Lewes prison, said: "I welcome the Chief Inspector's report that Lewes is a safe and decent prison.

"The report has identified a number of areas of good practice as well as indicating other areas that can be developed further.

"I am delighted that the report has also recognised the extremely good relationships that exist between my staff and prisoners and this provides us with a solid platform on which to make further improvements."

But the Prison Reform Trust said it was a disappointing report and highlighted the prison's poor record of resettling prisoners.

A spokesman said: "It paints a picture of a prison and system that is struggling to keep its head above water.

"There's a real risk that people leaving without accommodation are going to be susceptible and vulnerable to reoffending and the social exclusion unit found that having accommodation when released can reduce reoffending by 20 per cent, so Lewes is really worrying."

He said it was inexcusable for prisoners to be forced to sit on the toilet to eat due to overcrowding.

See Weekend for an in-depth interview with Eoin McLennan-Murray.