Six people from Lewes Prison who went to hospital with food poisoning have all been discharged.

Three inmates and three staff members at the category B prison were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton after a major incident on Thursday.

It is thought that at least ten people were initially treated at the prison after falling unwell just after midday.

The incident triggered a huge emergency service response with eight ambulances, police, fire rescue and a CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) incident support unit attending.

The Argus: A CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) incident support unit attended the prisonA CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) incident support unit attended the prison (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

Decontamination tents were set up outside Eastbourne District General Hospital (EDGH) and the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Signs were put up saying the EDGH was closed due to a “major incident”.

However a spokesman for the hospital later confirmed that it was not actually closed but was prepared to receive casualties from the prison. All casualties were taken to Brighton instead.

The BBC reported that the prison kitchen was locked down and it is understood that the kitchen later reopened after "being deemed safe". 

The Argus: A decontamination tent outside EDGH and closed signs A decontamination tent outside EDGH and closed signs (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

There were initial fears that two people were in a life threatening condition but the MoJ said this was not the case.

A spokeswoman for the MoJ also said there was no indication of drugs being involved.

A Prison Service spokesman said yesterday: “We are working with the emergency services to deal with a suspected food poisoning incident at HMP Lewes.”

Sussex Police said they were assisted by ambulance crews with the incident "following reports of a medical incident at HMP Lewes at around 12.30pm".