UNANNOUNCED checks were made at Middlewich custody suite on October 19.

Visits were made at the three custody suites in the north west by independent volunteers who check on the welfare of people being held in police custody.

Margaret Ollerenshaw, chairman for Cheshire Police Authority, said: "They are an important safeguard for detainees providing an independent audit of how people held in police custody are being treated.

“The vast majority of reports received from custody visitors are complimentary about the conditions in custody."

Bob Hodgson, custody visitor, added: “Last year in Cheshire, we checked on 1307 of the 3182 detainees being held at the time of the visits.

“We always introduce ourselves to them first and 95 per cent agreed to speak to us.

“We found that some raised issues relating to availability of food or bedding or about family members and telephone calls but the majority of issues were sorted out straight away by the custody staff.”