Prison tours snapped up in hours

Interest in the forthcoming public tours of the Island's Victorian prison has been 'phenomenal', according to the Department of Home Affairs.

All 1,750 places were snapped up within hours of the booking line opening yesterday morning.

Among those looking forward to a 90 minute guided tour of the premises are 24 groups of children from schools in the Island.

The tours will be given by Tony Hawkes, a former acting governor of the prison, and they start on Saturday morning.

(Picture: Tony Hawkes holds the keys to the former prison in Victoria Road, Douglas).