Prison bosses have explained the reason for a lockdown at Strangeways which has seen inmates confined to their cells all week.
Visits have been suspended at the category A jail in Cheetham Hill since Monday (6 June), and prisoners claim they haven't been able to shower or exercise for several days.
Relatives told the M.E.N they'd been informed that family members inside the prison have been forbidden from leaving their cell for any reason, and have been having meals brought to their doors.
READ MORE: Makeshift sign warns passengers of two-hour wait for baggage at Manchester Airport
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have now confirmed the lockdown is due to an 'intelligence-led operation' which has taken place inside the prison to 'crack down on illegal contraband.'
They acknowledged that visits had been 'temporarily' suspended, but assured that they are expected to resume this weekend. Bosses have not confirmed when the lockdown will end.
One woman, whose 19-year-old son is currently an inmate at the jail said he told her that prisoner's mental health was starting to deteriorate and that the mood inside had become "very tense."
She said: "My son rang me to say the prisoner's mental health is deteriorating quite quickly. They say they haven't had showers and are being delivered one meal a day to their cell.
"He said they haven't had fresh air since last Wednesday. I know they are all in their for crimes but they do have human rights and this really isn't good for their mental health.
"It's been bad enough but because of the bank holiday it will be about eight or nine days now without any visitors. He says prison officers have been going in to search people's cells."
Another woman, whose partner is also an inmate, said she'd been told prisoners had been locked down for four days and also claimed they had not been able to shower or exercise.
She claims when she rang the prison she could hear alarms going off in the background, and the sound of prisoners kicking their doors.
Another man, whose friend is serving time at the jail said: "They got a letter last week to say the prison was going into lockdown and it was expected to last a week might take longer. He has been behind his door for five days.
"The person I know said today will be his sixth day without a shower. The prison guards are bringing meals round to their cell and they are not even letting them out for dinner. He said his head is starting to go.
"Surely they have basic human rights and should be able to have a shower. They haven't even been let out to exercise. They have an in-cell phone system so he's been able to ring me but he can't leave his cell."
A spokesperson for the MoJ said: "An intelligence-led operation has taken place this week to crack down on the illegal contraband that puts prisoners and staff at risk.
"Visits were suspended temporarily but are expected to resume this weekend, while phone calls to family and friends have been available throughout."
