A Lancashire prison has recorded an outbreak of coronavirus with more than 40 inmates contracting the virus.

On Tuesday, MPs were told that prisons in England and Wales were dealing with 60 outbreaks of coronavirus, including a large outbreak at Preston prison.

As well as Preston, larger outbreaks – typically classed as more than 40 cases – have occurred in Belmarsh, Frankland, Elmley and Cardiff prisons, the Commons Justice Committee heard.

Despite this, chief executive of the Prison and Probation Service, Jo Farrar, told MPs staff had a 'good strategy' in place for tackling outbreaks, and cases – particularly asymptomatic infections – were being detected earlier because of a better testing regime.

However, the latest figures indicate cases in prisons had doubled in a month, but Ms Farrar insisted officials do not believe the second wave of the virus is more severe than the first.

Ministry of Justice data showed the number of prisoners in English and Welsh jails testing positive for Covid-19 rose from 646 in September to 1,529 in October.

By October, there were cases in 99 prisons.

Ms Farrar said: “We don’t believe that the second wave is more severe than the first wave.

“What we do believe is that we have better testing in the second wave so it’s showing us a lot more asymptomatic that we wouldn’t have necessarily known about in wave one.

“We also didn’t start measuring the number of outbreaks until the end of April, which was after the peak which was 46.

“But our informal information is showing that there were also 60 outbreaks during the first peak, so similar to the situation now.

"But, as I say, we seem to be picking up outbreaks earlier.”

An outbreak is declared in a prison setting if there are two or more linked cases.

Staff now use personal protective equipment (PPE) more and there is 'much more' testing for staff.

Restrictions on visits will most likely have to continue over the Christmas period, but there were plans to try to set up video calls with family where possible instead.

Ms Farrar added: “I can’t see a big opening up in the estate within the next few weeks, I think we will be continuing as we are now and looking to open up in the new year as and when vaccines become available.”