One jail that really is a holiday camp! Father has turned jail van that smelt of blood and old soup when he bought it for £3,000 on eBay into his dream motorhome

Alex Saunders, 42, from Hampshire bought an old, dirty, prison van for £3000 and turned into a luxury motorhome

The painter and decorator lovingly spent another £4000 to renovate the van over 18 months



The handy father-of-two installed bunk beds, a kitchen and a heating system to transform the grotty security vehicle




While millions of Brits go on holiday this Easter one dad is taking his family camping in a luxury motorhome - built from an old prison van.



Enterprising Alex Saunders, 42, from Andover, Hampshire, bought the security vehicle, which came complete with lockable cell doors and peep-holes for the guards, for just £3,000 from eBay.



The painter and decorator has spent a painstaking 18 months and another £4,000 completely stripping the 2004 van and turning it into his dream motorhome.



An Englishman's van: Alex Saunders sits outside the former high security prison van which he lovingly transformed into a luxury camper van for his family

My humble abode: The father-of-two sits inside his luxury van on an L-shaped sofa with fluffy cushions and he even managed to kit it out with wooden floors

Remarkably, Alex built and installed everything from bunk beds and a fully-functional kitchen to a heating and water system on his own.



After knocking through walls of the six cells, he worked most nights and weekends putting bunk beds for the kids at the back and then a bathroom and kitchen down each side.



He then built an L-shaped sofa which transforms into a double bed to go in the front with a table for the family to use at meal times.

Alex finished his pride and joy in January and has already taken his wife Sarah, 40, and their two sons Connor, 15, and Bailey, 12, on two British holidays this year.



Yesterday, Alex and his family set off again for a tour of the South West of England then they set off from their home in Andover, Hamps., at 5am to beat the Easter rush.



All of the mod cons: Alex installed bunk beds at the back, a bathroom and a kitchen down the side and a flat screen TV on the wall

How it was: Alex saw the prison van on eBay and said it already had a heating system and great insulation - but stank of blood and old soup

Fit for a prisoner: The prison van looked as though it was only fit for prisoners - but now it is totally different

Labour of love: Wooden beams are piled up high in the van whilst wires hang down from the ceiling

Hard work: Wood is installed in the van from top to floor, as a great deal of tools are littered around the work tops Fitted kitchen: Alex spent £4,000 completely stripping the van out starting by adding the framework for the kitchen and sink Fitting windows: The small windows from the old prison van were taken out and put on the grass as Alex fitted in new ones Carpentry: The handy father fitted beautiful wooden cupboards in the van that used to transport prisoners around Out with the old: The D.I.Y enthusiast said he tore the cells out and got everything in there that he made himself and measured it all out with a tape measure

What a beauty: The proud handyman takes a look through the driver's seat at his incredible camper van The way she was: The van had no character but had a heating system and great insulation as prison vans have better insulation than some houses, according to Alex

A throne fit for a van: Alex outdid himself and even managed to fit in a small loo in the van along with a shower and fully-fitted bathroom



Gorgeous decor: After knocking through walls he worked most nights and weekends to put bunk beds in for the kids and then a bathroom and kitchen down each side Cozy: A flat screen TV on the wall completes the interior of the inside of the van which also has a few home touches

Lovely: The dad-of-two is planning on whisking his family around the country in their new motorhome Stunning: Alex Saunders bought the former security vehicle for just £3,000 from a company specialising in selling them second-hand in January 2012 Kitchen view: Remarkably, Alex built and installed everything from bunk beds and a fully-functional kitchen to a heating and water system on his own Room with a view: Alex peers out of the van which he has already taken to Weymouth and to the New Forest but this Easter he's heading to the South West for a week-long tour Stands out: The fully refurbished van certainly stands out from the crowd when its amongst other camper vans in a field

Off on the open road: Alex finished his pride and joy in January and has already taken his wife Sarah, 40, and their two sons Connor, 15, and Bailey, 12, on two British holidays this year HOW MUCH DID IT COST TO TRANSFORM A RUNDOWN PRISON VAN INTO A MOTORHOME? Alex Saunders bought the security vehicle for just £3,000 from eBay. He spent:

£500 Tools to strip and clean interior of van



£150 Water heater from eBay



£50 Chemical toilet from motorhome online shop



£750 Plywood for furniture and strip-wood style lino for floor from B&Q



£800 Bespoke upholstery cushions and mattresses from motorhome fitters



£30 Sink from eBay



£50 Two-ring gas hob from eBay



£150 Taps from motorhome online shop

£150 Exterior decorations



£250 LED lights



£500 Strengthening chassis of vehicle



£100 Paint



£350 HD TV



£250 Sockets, electricity and plumbing



£70 Screws, hinges etc. TOTAL=£4,150

He said: 'I saw a prison van on eBay and thought it would be ridiculous but I kept going back and looking and the more I thought about it the more it made sense.



'It already had a heating system and great insulation. Prison vans have better insulation that some house rooms so we don't even need to use the heating.



'I got stuck in immediately. The insurance said I had to have it registered as a motorhome within three months so I worked on it every night and weekend.



'Then after that I spent another 15 months doing it properly and following the plans my wife had drawn up.



'I tore the cells out and got everything in there that I made myself. I started at the back with a tape measure and worked forwards.



'There are bunk beds at the back for the lads, a bathroom and kitchen down the side and an L-shaped sofa at the front that is also a double bed.



'I covered the outside with grey enamel and then my wife wanted flowers so I stencilled them on the outside and she painted over them.



'We've already taken it to Weymouth and to the New Forest but this Easter we're heading to the South West for a week-long tour.'



The 22 foot-long, five tonne van used to belong to security firm Reliance - who sold some of their vehicles when they lost out on a Scottish courts and prisoners service contract to G4S in 2011.



Alex added: 'There's a few scratches on the windows that I left there to keep its character.



'It was used up in Scotland and we don't know who might have been it in but it was creepy to think some of the most dangerous criminals and all kinds of weirdos have been in it.



'It was pretty grim when I first when in there, it smelt like a mixture of blood and old soup which had been spilt everywhere.

