A prison's new chapel will not contain a crucifix to avoid offending Muslim worshippers.

The new building at HMP Lewes, in Brighton Road, has been designed as a multi-faith room to provide appropriate facilities for all religions.

The space has been split into two and divided by a moveable partition.

One side is dedicated to Christian worship and the other to the various other faiths that make up the prison community.

To accommodate a large congregation, the partition can be removed to open up the whole space.

According to a spokeswoman from the prison’s Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), the need to be “flexible” means the traditional Christian crucifix depicting Jesus nailed to the cross will not be used in the chapel.

After discussions between the prison’s chaplain and Muslim imam, it was agreed a toned-down wooden cross would be used instead of a crucifix.

A portable altar will also be used so it can be removed from the space when it is not needed.

In order to provide the necessary facilities for its Muslim worshippers, footbaths have been installed so that the inmates can wash their feet before prayers.

Amanda Hamblin, chairwoman of the IMB, welcomed the news and the fact that a mutually-acceptable agreement had been reached.

She said: “We see this as a vastly improved facility and very much welcome the fact that the prison has an imam.

“It is key that everyone will have access to a decent place of worship whether they are Muslims, Christians or of any other faiths.

“I think the significant thing about this is that the facilities were very poor before.

“Now they have been set up with a lot of consultation and thought given to how to make it fit for purpose, fit for access and fit for the religious needs our prisoners, whatever those may be.”

Although it was officially dedicated on December 5, the multi-faith area has not yet opened for use.

It includes a disabled access.

Zsa Roggendorff, chairman of the Ford Prison IMB, said: “At Ford we have a multi-faith chapel and all prisoners are allowed to use it.

“We still have our cross and we have the altar.

“All the other faiths have got their own special rooms in huts to use which are part of the main prison village.”