She was taken to Dryburn hospital in County Durham on Thursday night after being told she would never be released from jail.

Staff at Durham Prison became concerned about her health when she learnt of the ruling by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Bingham.

She was kept under armed guard in a single room during her short stay at the hospital, where she was said to be in a "comfortable" condition. A prison spokesman would not comment on her condition after her return to the prison.

Hindley, 55, did not attend the court hearing in London over fears for her safety.

She spent most of Thursday in her cell after being told that the High Court had ruled that the Home Secretary could determine how long she spent in jail.

Even though she was granted leave to appeal, staff monitoring her reported that she became increasingly upset as it sank in that her bid for freedom had failed.

A Prison Services spokesman said it is common practice to monitor prisoners who receive bad news.

Hindley became ill after she realised her bid for freedom had failed

Hindley has served 31 years since she was jailed in 1966 as Ian Brady's accomplice in the horrific murders of Lesley Ann Downey, 10, and Edward Evans, 17. She later confessed to three other killings.

Her lawyers challenged the decision of former Home Secretary Michael Howard in February this year, reaffirmed in November by his successor Jack Straw, that she should die behind bars.

In the High Court on Thursday, Lord Bingham, the Lord Chief Justice, and two senior judges unanimously ruled that the Home Secretary is entitled to decide that she must die in prison.