INMATES at Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institute are getting experience of the working world to benefit them on their release.

Great Sankey-based water company United Utilities is offering work placements to prisoners at the Appleton Thorn institute.

Mark Hanson, Thorn Cross YOI employment liaison manager, said: "This will give the young men something to show potential employers when they are released, as well as providing valuable experience and skills."

The first successful applicant on the programme is Andrew Walsh, aged 19, from Oldham, who is training as a mechanic at United Utilities' Winsford garage.

Graham Davies, the company's fleet maintenance manager, said: "We interviewed four candidates and they were so impressive I wished we could have taken all of them.

"There is a desperate shortage of mechanics and these young men will be training on modern vehicles. If a vacancy arose, we may be able to look into offering them placements on their release."

Andrew said: "This has provided me with a wide and varied experience and it will definitely benefit me in the future."

United Utilities has provided Thorn Cross YOI with vehicles for prisoners to work on in its own mechanics workshop, preparing the vehicles for auction.

It will also part-fund the secondment of an employment link worker to encourage similar partnerships with other employers.