A CIVILIAN worker has been arrested after allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into a top security prison near York.

The Evening Press has learned that a 41-year-old woman was detained yesterday by prison officers at Full Sutton, near York.

A prison source said the woman allegedly had two bags of Class A drug, either heroin or cocaine, with a value of several thousand pounds, taped to her upper body.

The arrest was made by prison officers yesterday morning after the woman cleared security checks at the prison.

It is thought that they were acting on a tip-off.

The woman was held by security guards until prison officers arrived. She was then strip-searched and transported to an East Yorkshire police station for interview.

A Humberside Police spokeswoman confirmed that a 41-year-old woman from Driffield was arrested for drug possession at the prison yesterday morning.

She said that prison officers, who have powers of arrest, had detained the woman and called in police officers.

She added that the woman has since been released on police bail and that the investigation into the discovery is continuing.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "A civilian member of staff has been excluded from Full Sutton on suspicion of bringing in banned items to the prison. This is now a matter for the police."

HMP Full Sutton is a maximum security prison and houses several dangerous and notorious inmates including the serial killer Dennis Nilsen.

Updated: 10:35 Wednesday, May 26, 2004