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Constructive activity and intervention programmes for young adult prisoners are "woefully inadequate", say MPs.

Prisoners aged 18-21 have been "overlooked" in the reform of the prison system, the report by the home affairs select committee states.

The MPs have urged the government to match the development of rehabilitation strategies for juveniles with an "equivalent" range of interventions for young adults.

The report, published last week, also raises concerns about the poor treatment of prisoners with mental health problems and the rise in the number of women prisoners and those from ethnic minorities.

It highlights that jails are failing to divert mentally ill prisoners into the correct services and criticises delays in assessing mental health needs.

The committee also slammed the "severe problems" caused by overcrowding in prisons, along with the frequent transfers of prisoners between jails.

The failure of prisons to meet the target of providing an average of 24 hours of purposeful activities for each prisoner each week also comes under fire.

The report calls for a "radical transformation" of the prison regime to ensure inmates have greater access to work and education.

Committee chair John Denham said: "Education, work, training and day release are not soft options. This is about recognising what works, about fostering a work ethic and giving prisoners responsibility for their own future when they are released."

• Report from www.publications.parliament.uk