WOMEN prisoners near Bromsgrove having to use plastic bags and rubbish bins instead of toilets overnight is one of a range of "serious deficiencies" highlighted in a new report by inspectors.

The inspectors visited Brockhill, in Tardebigge - the only women's prison in the West Midlands - just three days after a 19-year-old was found hanging in her cell last October.

It was the second such death there in 2004 and was numbered alongside 390 recorded incidents of self-harm in the same year among some "very needy" women, Chief Inspector of Prisons, Anne Owers, noted in her report.

"There is no doubt that Brockhill has deficiencies, some of which are serious and require major investment," she said.

Around the time of their four-day visit last October, the inspectors were "dismayed" to find the Prisons Board had made a suggestion to house men instead of women at the 1960s-built prison.

The report said this would make the problems worse as the majority of the 132 inmates lived within 50 miles away and would be sent a long way from their families.

Among the main difficulties identified in the report were the sanitation at night, which was "grossly inadequate." The women - 118 adults and 14 aged 18 to 21 - had limited access to toilet facilities and some complained they had been forced to use plastic bags and rubbish bins.

The showers were prone to flooding and catering arrangements, complaints system and legal advice were "patchy and poor."

It said there were a number of "positives" to build on. A new detoxification centre had just been built and relationships between staff and prisoners were good.

Prisoners had a fair amount of time out of their cells, bullying was not seen to be a real problem and education and training were improving.

Phil Wheatley, director general of the Prison Service, said he was pleased that the inspector had recognised the improvements being made.

Martin Narey, chief executive of the National Offenders Management Service, said there were no formal plans currently in place to change the use of the prison to house men.