PRISONS across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are getting back to normal today after officers called off their strike action.

It comes after the officers' union was offered fresh pay talks by the Government.

The decision to end the strikes followed a decision in the High Court to grant an injuction to the Ministry of Justice stopping the illegal walkouts.

The action, which saw strikes at Winchester Prison, and Parkhurst, Albany and Camp Hill prisons on the Isle of Wight, had been held because of a dispute over the prison officers' pay and conditions.

The court order was passed less than half-way through the nationwide 24-hour strike action that began at 7am yesterday morning.

It had been issued to prevent the association from authorising or supporting any form of industrial action, however protesters yesterday afternoon initially ignored the injunction.

Then, shortly after 7.30pm, it was announced the Prison Officers Association had agreed to call off the strike altogether following the offer of fresh talks.

Inmates across the region's four prisons, catering for 2,325 category B and C prisoners, were largely kept in their cells during the action.

At Winchester Prison around 60 staff, nearly all of the prison's day workers, refused to go to work with just a skeleton staff in operation making sure prisoners received meals and any medical attention.

Throughout Hampshire police remained on standby in case they were required to be drafted in.

Courts in Hampshire were also hoping to get back to normal today following the strike.

All trials at Southampton Crown Court were adjourned for 24 hours after no defendants were produced from Winchester Prison.

A majority of the POA's 28,000 members voted in favour of industrial action earlier this month after they said their pay offer would mean only receiving a 1.9 per cent pay rise.