A MENTAL health day centre to help prepare inmates for release is being planned as part of on going improvements to Long Lartin prison.

The day centre will provide counselling and occupational therapy for inmates with mental health problems at the maximum security South Littleton jail.

"At the moment we have two wings shut down for refurbishment but when we get up to full numbers again we will need to extend the sports hall to have sufficient facilities for prisoners," said deputy governor John Huntington.

"Part of the sports hall extension will be the mental health day care centre which will prepare people for release into the community and to lower category establishments."

The prison has been undergoing refurbishment and improvement over the past couple of years with different wings being closed and refurbished in rotation.

H M Prison Service has now applied to Wychavon District Council for planning permission to extend the sports hall and carry out the latest phase of work.

The application will be discussed at a future district council planning meeting and if councillors agree, work is expected to start towards the end of this year.

The whole programme of work is expected to be completed in about 12 months time. The category A prison will then house about 600 inmates, many of whom are deemed to be among the most dangerous prisoners in the country requiring the maximum security provided by Long Lartin.