Ford Open Prison has one of the worst records in Britain for convicts who walk out never to return.

More than 50 prisoners who have absconded from the jail near Arundel since 1998 remain at large. Last year, 91 inmates left, more than five times as many as in 1994.

The revelations come after The Argus reported prison officers' concerns about the number of inmates sneaking out over a fence to illegally stock up on alcohol from the Tesco store along the riverbank at nearby Littlehampton.

Bognor and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb last night called for an urgent investigation into what he called an "outrageous" situation.

He said: "I'm grateful to The Argus for bringing these concerns to wider attention and I shall be taking this up with the Home Office."

Officers are also angry after security duties were cut and prisoners were banned from having cuddly toys in their cells but allowed to possess knives.

A warder was punched and kicked to the ground by an inmate on December 21 and colleagues fear someone could suffer worse injuries.

One warder said: "Cuddly toys aren't allowed because they might be used to smuggle in drugs, yet they're allowed hobby knives which could do serious harm.

"The fact officers are being attacked and prisoners are escaping and coming back with booze or not returning at all shows something is going badly wrong. Because of over-crowding we're taking in inmates who just aren't ready for an open prison, including sex offenders."

Latest Home Office figures obtained by The Argus show of the 308 Ford escapees since 1998, only 257 had been recaptured by last June.

One of the most notorious prisoners to escape was killer Thomas Tangney, who went on the run in March 1999.

Tangney, a former heroin addict, was serving 99 years for blasting a pensioner to death with a shotgun.

In March 1995 Michael "Mad Mickey" Grant, serving 15 years for attempted murder, went on the run before giving himself up.

Mr Gibb said: "I've been concerned over recent years about the type of prisoners being sent to Ford.

"Prisoners coming to the end of their sentences simply don't escape. The fact there are so many escapes from Ford suggests the type of people there are not suitable.

"We have always been assured there were no prisoners there for sex offences.

"I will be asking for this to be investigated and also the claims that prisoners are bringing in alcohol, which is outrageous."

Home Office spokesman James Cox said: "The Prison Service works hard to prevent any abscond or escape from custody. Those few that do occur are always investigated.

"All prisoners are thoroughly risk-assessed before being deemed suitable for category D status."

He added: "Any prisoner found in possession of alcohol or who can be shown to have consumed alcohol may be returned to closed conditions immediately."