Six inmates have been let out by mistake as part of government coronavirus measures for prisons, prompting the early release scheme to be put on hold.

Even though they were candidates for the initiative aimed at reducing the spread of Covid-19 in jails, they were let out too soon due to an “administrative error”, according to the Prison Service.

The early release scheme has been paused for a few days after the mistake but should start against next week, a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson told The Independent.

The low-risk offenders involved are all back in prison, a Prison Service spokesperson said.

They were inmates at two open Category D prisons in Gloucestershire and Derbyshire, Leyhill and Sudbury, and an Isis Category C prison and young offenders institute in southeast London.

The MoJ said selected low-risk offenders would be electronically tagged and temporarily released on licence in stages, although they could be recalled at the first sign of concern.

It was seen as a way to avoid thousands of prisoners – many of whom share cells – from becoming infected.

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Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in half of the prisons in England and Wales.

David Lammy, a Labour MP, said: “It is deeply troubling that out of the handful of inmates released so far as part of the government’s new scheme responding to Covid-19, six were released in error.

“The mistakes made must be quickly understood and remedied.”

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We are aware of a small number of low-risk offenders who were released from prison under the temporary early release scheme following an administrative error.

“The men were released too early but were otherwise eligible under the scheme, and returned compliantly to prison when asked to do so.”

They added: “We have strengthened the administrative processes around the scheme to make sure this does not happen again.”

A total of 255 prisoners had tested positive for coronavirus in more than 60 jails as of Thursday afternoon, according to the MoJ, while 13 inmates have died.

Some 138 prison staff have also contracted the virus in 49 prisons, as well as seven prisoner escort and custody services staff.