Early prison release scheme sees an estimated 1,700 inmates freed today

Hundreds of prisoners have walked free today, in the first phase of an early release scheme to tackle severe overcrowding.

The prison population in England and Wales hit a record high last Friday, with more than 88 and a half thousand people behind bars.

Today, an estimated 1,700 were freed, but a total of 5,500 inmates are expected to be released as part of the emergency scheme.