A WARDER sparked a huge security alert at the jail where Ian Huntley is being held.

The guard took home a set of handcuff keys - raising fears they had been stolen by inmates.

He found them in a jacket pocket - but not before thousands of pounds were spent on changing locks at Belmarsh jail in south-east London where Soham killer Huntley is being allowed to mix with other prisoners. A source said: "It was a huge blunder. Warders should hand in keys when they finish a shift. This set could have been smuggled out and copied."

The Prison Service said: "There is an investigation and procedures are being examined."