A women's open prison between York and Tadcaster is inviting members of the public to spend a short stretch within its walls on Friday.

Askham Grange prison at Askham Richard is holding an open day between 10am and 2pm in aid of Meningitis Awareness.

Paul Foweather, head of sentence management at the jail, said the event was linked to National Meningitis Awareness Day.

Visitors will be charged 50 pence to see inside the 50-room Victorian mansion and buildings including a hostel and a mother and baby unit.

Cakes and refreshments will be served and information on meningitis will be available.

Mr Foweather said: "We want to involve as many people as we can because we think it's a worthwhile cause. It's giving people information and it's raising funds for the charity."

Askham Grange was Britain's first open prison for women when it received its first inmates in January, 1947.

It now has about 130 prisoners ranging from teenagers to senior citizens and from first-time offenders to those coming to the end of lengthy sentences.

Copies of The Story Of A House, the history of the jail by Brian Lewis and governor Harry Crew, will be on sale on Friday at the special price of £5 - down from £7.95.

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