DEAN Crime Through Time boss Andy Jones wants to turn Gloucester Prison into a tourist attraction.

The owner of Littledean Jail has registered an interest in the 230-year-old jail with the Ministry of Justice.

The prison is closing at the end of March because it is too old and dilapidated.

But Mr Jones said it was important to save such an important part of the county's heritage for future generations.

He believes the Grade II listed part of the jail would be perfect for a museum.

He said: "It would be a different concept from Littledean in that it would be simply about the history of the prison.

"We would be able to use the old hangman's scaffold which has been in storage since the end of capital punishment in the 1960s.

"But it would be an expensive project and would need the support of organisations such as English Heritage.

"My guess is that they will sell it to the highest bidder, which would be such a waste."

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