WARNING: English hooligans who break the law might end up in Marseille's violent prison

Staff at Les Baumettes jail, close to where England face Russia on Saturday, said: “Conditions are very bad”.

Many of its 1,700 inmates are also crammed three to a cell.

Volunteer Mathilde Durr, who helps out at the grim slammer, also revealed lags spend 23 hours a day in confinement.

HELL: Prisoners at Les Baumettes spend 23 hours a day in confinement

She said: “There are a lot of drugs, a lot of violence. Stabbings happen regularly, and there are problems with drugs such as heroin and cannabis.

"No English is spoken. If you can’t speak French, you won’t know what is going on.”

Mathilde and a co-worker, who did not want to be named, also disputed reports that recent building works had dramatically improved conditions at the jail.

Plus, they pointed out that there were few in-cell televisions or games consoles like those found in many British prisons.

Mathilde’s female friend added: “It’s definitely not a holiday camp, not like what you seem to have in your prisons in the UK.”

The Daily Star Sunday visited the imposing cell block this week as families arrived to see their loved ones.

Many appeared stressed and upset by the prospect of even having to enter the fearsome building.

And they angrily batted off questions about conditions inside.