A retired prison officer and his wife became a historic jail's first inmates in nearly a century when they were accidentally locked in by staff.

Norman Bradshaw, 64, and his wife June, 63, from Scunthorpe were visiting Ruthin Gaol while on holiday in Denbighshire when staff closed up early and went home. The couple were still exploring the grounds while listening to an audio tour and finally arrived at the souvenir shop to find it deserted with all the windows and doors locked. Mr Bradshaw, from Scunthorpe, said he’d asked staff if they had time to do the tour, when they arrived and was assured that they did.

“My wife and I went into the shop to buy mementoes of the visit and found that not only were we on our own, but in fact we were locked in the Gaol with no visible means of escape in sight," he said. “The brochure says a visit to the Gaol is a gruelling experience, and in this case it was.”

A worker in a nearby archive building heard their cries for help but could not release them because she did not have the keys. The couple were eventually set free just before 5pm. Mr Bradshaw added: “I joined HM Prison Service in December 1966 and retired in 2004 - during all that time I was never ever locked inside a prison with no escape, that is until now. My sons and their wives all work for the prison service so it really is quite ironic."

A Denbighshire Council spokeswoman said: “The council would like to sincerely apologise to the couple for any distress caused and a personal apology is on its way to them, together with the offer of a refund. The doors close at 4pm but we do allow visitors another hour to look around the attraction. Staff double checked the building and could not see anyone. Believing it was empty, the doors were locked."

Probably more comfortable than some of the sheltered accommodation on offer...

What time does the bingo start?

The original was here