Preston Prison has the sixth highest number of prisoners sharing cells designed for one in the country, figures revealed today.
The number of prisoners who were held two to a cell at the end of February stood at 680.
The highest in the country was HMP Wandsworth, which had 1,084 prisoners sharing cells for one.
Today, prison staff defended the Victorian jail and said ov
ercrowding was not its biggest challenge.
Gareth Cheetham, a governor at the prison, said: "Preston is in this position like the rest of the country.
"It is an old prison that was built well before the current prison population could have been conceded."
The figures showed HMP Wymott, Leyland, had 90 inmates sharing cells for one, while neighbouring Garth prison had 12.
Lancaster Castle prison had 114 prisoners sharing accommodation and Lancaster Farms Young Offenders Institute, had 58 inmates sharing cells for one.
HMP Kirkham, an open prison, had none.
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