THE Isle of Wight's prison population could soar under government plans to build a huge new jail to add to the existing three.

The new jail - which would house around 500 inmates - would be sited on Home Office owned land at Parkhurst.

An announcement about the plans is expected shortly.

If built, the number of prisoners on the Island would increase to around 2,000. Albany houses some 440 prisoners, there are 530 at Camp Hill and 500 at Parkhurst.

The news follows plans by the government to build a 40-bed pre-fabricated jail on the Island. The building is expected to be sited on vacant land at Albany.