HUNDREDS of children at an infamous juvenile prison are currently in solitary confinement, an official inspection report revealed today.

A quarter of young men held at Feltham prison was forced to spend 23 hours in their cells and many more spent “limited time unlocked.”

The report filed by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons also disclosed that many of the boys were left “with nothing to do” for too long.

There were over 30 recorded incidents of self-harm and the report concluded that too many children were being kept apart from others due to the gang-related nature of their convictions.

Howard League for Penal Reform director of campaigns Andrew Neilson said the situation was “unacceptable.”

“It is particularly concerning that the use of force on children has increased dramatically since the last inspection.”

He added: “The problems outlined in this report are not confined to Feltham, they mirror the findings of a series of inspections conducted across the country in recent months.”

Other campaign groups shared Mr Neilson’s view that youth rehabilitation was more important than incarceration.

Commenting on the results of the Feltham inspection Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon said that in fact the lack of unlocked time was “closing the door on any chance of rehabilitation.”

Labour’s shadow justice minister Dan Jarvis MP used the opportunity to slam the legacy of his opposite number, Justice

Secretary Chris Grayling.

“Not enough good training is being delivered and boys are being locked up with little to do,” he said.

“There is little hope of young people being rehabilitated in these conditions and it’s the public’s safety that will be put at risk as a result.

“This report underlines why Chris Grayling should be concentrating on improving standards in our existing prisons rather than ploughing ahead with his flawed plans for an £85m secure college.”

Conditions at Feltham prison have been in the news recurrently over recent years after “shoe bomber” Richard Reid was allegedly radicalised during his stay at the institution.

British terror suspect Jermaine Grant — currently on trial in Kenya — and July 7 bomber Germaine Lindsay was also reportedly radicalised while serving a sentence at Feltham.