PRISON chiefs blew nearly £50,000 of taxpayers’ cash on two therapy igloos to give violent young cons a “special space”.

The white igloos, known as Seed Pods, have ambient lighting that changes colour and mood music.

It is claimed the pods allow some of the jail’s toughest yobs to talk to staff privately without “raised voices” — and practice therapies like mindfulness.

But insiders at West London’s Feltham Young Offenders Institute say money would be better spent on staffing.

One added: “Budgets are tight but it seems governors are happy to splurge so a handful of violent thugs have a ‘special space’ but not on the basics that make the staff’s job easier.”

The igloos are designed by Leeds-based firm Safe Innovations and were first trialled at HMP Leeds in 2015.

Tory MP Andrew Rosindell said: “Prisons should be for punishment.

"Law-abiding people don’t have access to this type of facility on the outside.”

Prison Service spokesman said: “Many young people in custody have suffered abuse or trauma and need mental health support.

"Feltham is following an approach police and mental health services have found successful in order to help young offenders change their behaviour and to prevent further victims.”