Prison officers to be armed with synthetic pepper spray after West Yorks trial

A successful trial was carried out at Wealstun prison near Wetherby in West Yorkshire Credit: ITV Yorkshire

Prison officers are to be given canisters of synthetic pepper spray in a bid to combat violence in jails - after a successful trial at a prison in West Yorkshire

Officers at Wealstun Prison near Wetherby were armed with the spray as part of a government pilot.

Prisons Minister Rory Stewart says results show the spray can act as a deterrent.

The canisters will now be carried by officers in all publicly-run jails for men from 2019.