A COUNCIL is to offer more people the chance to go to prison after being overwhelmed by requests for tours of a former jail.

Hambleton District Council is opening up the prison for special visits after buying Northallerton prison for £1.4m from the Home office as part of a massive redevelopment of the centre of the town.

The prison, which opened in 1783, has been a huge part of the town’s history, once containing the largest treadmill in the world.

There are five listed buildings within the complex which was closed in 2013 by the Ministry of Justice after concerns it was outdated.

Free tours were on offer over two weeks this summer, lasting 30 minutes and including information and historical details about the prison.

But when the lines opened at 9am this morning (Monday July 13), the 600 places on offer were booked up in under 40 minutes, and complaints were made on Facebook that the way it had been handled had been a “disgrace”.

Now, the leader of the council, Cllr Mark Robson has said they were so overwhelmed by the response, that more visits are being organised.

“Despite there being no services ,water, gas or electricity available and it being a derelict building which has significantly deteriorated, we have agreed with our insurers to allow some limited public access,” he said.

“To date, the response from the public has been phenomenal and so we are extending the tours to allow more local people the opportunity to have a glimpse inside.

"After this, however, we will begin the process of demolition.

“The Council has taken a risk in buying the prison but is learning from other towns around the UK where property close to the centre has been mothballed and has stagnated.

"This bold approach to developing the prison site is one which should help the town both economically and socially."

For more information see www.hambleton.gov.uk