CAMP ZEIST SECURED BY BIKE CHAINS; pounds 100m trial, pounds 15 padlock.

CAMP Zeist was hailed as the most heavily fortified prison ever - but it now relies on fairly primitive security.

The former US airbase near Utrecht, Holland - where the Lockerbie bombing suspects are on trial - is legally part of Scotland and has been transformed into a high-security prison at a cost of pounds 30million.

The two accused, Abdel Baset Ali Mohamed al-Megrahi and al-Amin Khalifa Fhimah, are surrounded by 40ft walls, fences, dog patrols, armed Scots police and a peri-meter swept by arc lights.

But instead of computer-controlled locks within the complex, some gates are secured with a padlock and chain of the type more commonly used by cyclists to lash their bikes to railings.

Yesterday, the Record bought a padlock similar to those used in the camp for just pounds 15 in a DIY store.

One visitor to Camp Zeist said: "I couldn't believe what I saw. There were these chains of the kind you buy in the High Street to stop your bike getting nicked. It is hardly impressive when you think of the amount that has been spent to bring these Libyans to trial."

The total cost of the trial, plus Camp Zeist and the cost of flying legal teams to and from Holland, is expected to run to around pounds 100million.

The four judges hearing the case are flown by RAF jet to and from Holland.

Security at the camp is in the hands of the Scottish Courts Administration and the Scottish police under the Dumfries and Galloway force.

It was in their area that Pan Am Flight 103 crashed with the loss of 270 lives.

Both the SCA and Dumfries police refused to explain the sudden appearance of bike chains on several gates within the complex. An SCA spokesman said: "We never comment on security matters."

But he conceded that if a gate had a lock on it and then a chain appeared on the same gate, it might lead people to the conclusion that the lock didn't work.

Last night, Tory law and order spokesman Phil Gallie said: "I shall be asking questions to the Scottish Executive about this."