IT sounds like a joke but prisoners in Winchester have been given lessons in stand-up comedy as part of their sentence.

Winchester Prison has landed a sponsorship deal with comedy-club operators Jongleurs to teach the inmates at the Romsey Road correctional facility jokes.

The move saw prisoners at the jail taught how to develop and deliver stand-up comedy routines and impressions while serving their time behind bars. The aim of the programme was to teach the offenders more about empathy with others through laughter, and to give them lessons in communication skills.

The scheme, which saw up to 400 serious offenders from the Category B jail take part, was funded by £3,500 of public money along with the deal with Jongleurs. Aspiring inmates who showed some timing and ability were also offered the chance to take to the stage at a Jongleurs club on their release.

A spokesman for Jongleurs said the company brought two comedians down to the jail, where they gave the inmates four sessions in comedy writing and performing.

She added: "The sessions went very well and those who took part certainly seemed to benefit from the classes."

It has not yet been decided whether to stage more of the workshops at the jail that can house up to 550 prisoners up to a category B classification.

It's not the first time the Victorian-built jail has seen some more unusual rehabilitation efforts brought in.

In February 2002 The Stephen Sondheim Society was brought in along with the Pimlico Opera Company to give seven performances of the musical West Side Story in a bid to teach the inmates more about love and violence.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Anything that helps prisoners build their confidence or that helps them reintegrate into the community is a vauluable tool in reducing reoffending.''