A major expansion of a Rutland prison has been announced by the government today.

HMP Stocken, near Stretton, will see extra house blocks built, accommodating 206 prisoners.

It follows an earlier block opening in June 2019, which increased its capacity to 1,056 prisoners.

Planning permission is being sought for works to begin, with the first inmates expected to arrive in 2023.

The Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty's Prison and Probation service says four jails will have their capacity "boosted over the next 3 years as part of the government's transformation of the prison estate."

The £200 million spend at the four jails is part of wider £2.5Bn programme to create 10,000 extra prison places.

Prisons and Probation Minister, Lucy Frazer QC MP, said: "This significant step in our plan to transform the prison estate shows the government's intention to invest in infrastructure, create jobs and to build back better for this country.

"The new house blocks will provide modern environments where we can effectively rehabilitate offenders and steer them away from crime."