Reggie Kray recovers after surgery

Reggie Kray, third left, at brother Charlie's funeral

Ailing gangster Reggie Kray is awaiting the results of exploratory surgery and tests after being taken ill in prison.

The former gangland killer is recovering in hospital with wife Roberta at his bedside, after he fell ill at Norwich Prison.

A Prison Service spokeswoman refuted earlier claims that it was a cancer operation. She said: "It was exploratory surgery and tests. It was not cancer surgery."

Kray, who has served 31 years of a life sentence for the murder of Jack "The Hat" McVitie in London in 1969, was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on Wednesday morning.

Roberta Kray: at her husband's side

The hospital is used to dealing with inmates from Norwich Prison and two prison officers are accompanying Kray.

A hospital spokesman said: "Norwich Prison is a relatively large jail and we treat prisoners from there a lot of the time."

Speaking of Mrs Kray he said: "She wants to be with him and she's at his bedside."

Inadequate facilities

Kray, 66, was moved to the healthcare wing at Norwich Prison on 28 July after it was decided that medical facilities at Wayland Prison in Thetford were inadequate to deal with his as yet unidentified condition.

In April the former East End gangster was given prison leave to attend the funeral of his brother, Charlie.

Charlie Kray, 73, died in Parkhurst prison on the Isle of Wight on 4 April while serving a 12-year sentence for masterminding a cocaine smuggling plot.

Reggie's twin brother, Ronnie, died in 1995.