Prison to sell horse farm

The Suffolk Punch is a sturdy horse bred for farm work

One of the largest prison farms in the country is to be sold off.

Hollesley Bay Prison, near Woodbridge in Suffolk, is home to a rare herd of Suffolk Punch horses.

There are said to be just 300 of the horses in the UK, with 60-70 breeding mares.

The prison horses regularly appear at local and national shows.

The Suffolk Punch breed, which has been traced to 1506, was traditionally used for farm work and drawing heavy loads.

Nature reserve

A prison spokesman said it was hoped a charitable trust would take over ownership of the stud and the herd of horses next year.

The Suffolk Wildlife Trust is also in discussion with the prison about 500 acres next to the Alde and Ore estuary whcih it wants to create a huge nature reserve.

The spokesman said 900 acres of farmland will be sold, to include farm and packing sheds which produce milk for prisons in East Anglia and London.