Prison cell fire hospitalises two

Two prisoners were hospitalised after a woman inmate set fire to her mattress at Wellington Central Police Station last night.

The woman had concealed a lighter in her bag, before she set fire to the mattress in the cell she was being held in.

The plastic cover on the mattress meant the room filled with thick black smoke, before police bought the fire under control, Senior Sergeant Anita Dixon told NZPA.

"From all accounts it didn't look too good with the amount of smoke.

"[But] there's very little that can be set alight in the cells," she said.

Twelve prisoners were in the cells at the time, and two were taken to hospital for a check following smoke inhalation - including the woman who started the fire, she said.

They have now been returned to the cells.

- NZPA