AN INVESTIGATION is under way today after a prisoner transport van caught fire on the M3 and an inmate escaped.

Both security men in the van tackled the fire, which started in the back of their Group 4 van, after pulling onto the southbound hard shoulder of the M3 at junction 13 near Eastleigh just before 3pm yesterday.

Group 4 last night confirmed the breakout and said neither of their guards were seriously injured.

After the driver stopped the vehicle, a prisoner ran over the embankment towards the Woodside Avenue retail complex.

Only a few minutes later the man was found and arrested on suspicion of trying to steal a Ford Fiesta car.

It is believed that the Group 4 van had stopped at Winchester Crown Court and was on its way to Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight.

One lane of the southbound M3 was closed near Eastleigh while police collected the van.

A spokesperson for Group 4, told the Daily Echo: "Our first duty of care is to life so if there is a fire we have to do something about it. It is just one of those things.

This incident comes only a week after convicted murderer William Todd became the first prisoner to escape from Winchester jail in more than 30 years.

He was recaptured by police over the weekend near Reading in Berkshire.

Police have charged two men in connection with the fire .

Kenneth Mitchell, aged 35, is charged with arson to a Leyland DAF motor vehicle.

Terry John West, aged 25, of the Priory Estate, Slough, is charged with escape from lawful custody, affray and the attempted theft of a motor vehicle.

Both men were appearing before Southampton magistrates today.