A prison officer was airlifted to hospital after allegedly being stabbed with a knife dropped in by a drone.

The guard was knifed in the stomach in an "unprovoked attack" at HMP Long Lartin and taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, the Daily Express has been told.

The man is understood to be in a stable condition and receiving treatment in hospital.

A source claimed the suspected attacker allegedly used a flick-knife brought in by a drone.

"This happened this morning - a flick-knife got in and a prisoner stabbed an officer," a source claimed. "The governor isn't stopping the drones coming in - they are dropping items to prisoners in their cells.

"Something needs doing because this kind of thing is always happening. A prison officer is going to be killed soon."

A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Police are investigating an attack on a prison officer at HMP Long Lartin.

"We will not tolerate assaults on hardworking staff and will always push for the strongest punishments against perpetrators."

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "We were called to HMP Long Lartin in South Littleton around 10am this morning (Friday, May 30), following a report someone had been assaulted by an inmate.

"One man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after sustaining a stab wound. The inmate remains within the prison and the investigation is on-going."

The jail is known to hold some of the UK's most notorious criminals including Thomas Cashman, who murderered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

Seven drones have been seized and 18 people arrested as part of targeted efforts to detect and disrupt drones in the airspace over HMP Long Lartin, and surrounding villages.

There are currently nine separate on-going investigations in which 18 people have been arrested and since bailed or released under investigation, and seven drones have been seized.

It follows widespread outrage over a spate of attacks in high-security jails.

The Prison Service is currently conducting a 'snap review' into the use of protective body armour for prison officers, while the use of tasers is being trialled in jails.

Prison officers demanded increased protections after Manchester bombing plotter Hashem Abedi attacked three prison officers with a make-shift blade made from cooking trays and hot oil.

The MoJ has suspended access to kitchens in separation and close supervision units, where inmates are kept apart from the general prison population.

This is a breaking story. More to follow.