Wandsworth Prison officers are facing eviction from their homes as part of a Government bid to save money, a union claims.

The Ministry of Justice has told families to leave their state-owned homes by May 1 so they can be sold on the open market.

However the move could lead to experienced staff leaving the service as they struggle to cope with the cost of living in the borough.

An estimated 12 officers are affected in Wandsworth, one of whom is Mark Barwis, 42.

He has worked for the prison service for 18 years and claimed affordable housing was part of his contract.

He said: "I feel totally cheated."

As part of his contract, Mr Barwis pays £135 per month in rent. When he is evicted, he will have to pay an estimated £2,000 per month for a similar family home.

He added: "I can't afford money like that. I'm the only earner in our house. We'd have to leave London and live somewhere we can afford. That means I'd have to leave my job at the prison - and I don't know what I'd do instead. It makes me feel ill."

Mr Barwis' younger children will have to leave Beatrix Potter Primary School in Magdalen Road.

The couple would also have to pull the plug on their 17-year-old's university education because they would not be able to afford it.

The teenager, a student at Coombe College, had planned to study Architecture at Reading University or London Metropolitan University.

None of the prison officers affected have received offers of alternative accommodation or compen- sation.

The move is part of a national decision to evict the 600 officers still living in prison quarters across the country.

The Wandsworth Prison Officers' Association has condemned the move. Branch chairman Jim Shaw said: "All of this adds to the feeling that prison officers aren't valued or liked. We've had some very distressed members coming to us. They can't see a way out.

"Losing this affordable housing will be a huge loss to their income. The maximum pay you can get as an officer is £31,000, and that's a stuggle if you are the only earner in a family.

"They could end up in social housing, but this could mean they may be living next door to the very people they're locking up."

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice said: "The Prison Service stopped providing prison officers with houses in 1987 and they were given a pay rise to reflect the changes.

"Most officers went on to purchase their homes. The remaining officers pay a heavily subsidised rent."

Lawyers for the Prison Officers Association say workers have a right to remain in the properties while employed by the Government.

Transfer plans for convicts

Dangerous criminals in Wandsworth Prison are to be transferred to lower security prisons, it was announced this week.

The convicts to be transferred have been handed indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPPs), and have minimum jail terms of three years or less.

They are expected to move from the category B prison to one which is category C, although exact dates have not been set.

It comes after an announcement which stated such prisoners will now be immediately considered for category C status, although they would never be moved straight to "open" prisons - category D.

The Ministry of Justice denies the move has been taken to ease overcrowding.

A spokesman said: "The aim of the instruction is to ensure that those prisoners with under three year tariffs have better access to the rehabilitation programmes which will help them turn their lives around."