Hundreds of prisoners released early in England and Wales to ease overcrowding

As hundreds of prisoners across England and Wales are released early under a new scheme designed to free up prison space, some of those freed have told the BBC of the "hectic" conditions they are leaving behind - and their concerns about a lack of support waiting for them outside.

Around 700 offenders are expected to be freed with the first wave on Thursday, as prisoners serving sentences of up to 19 months become eligible for release after a third of their term.

The government has stressed they will remain subject to strict monitoring arrangements, including the expanded use of electronic tagging, and has said action was needed to prevent prisons from becoming full.

But some victims have questioned how they will be protected, while a probation worker told the BBC that managing the influx of offenders may be "just too much".

Outside Wandsworth Prison in London, former bus driver Michael Bogle was adamant he would not return to the Victorian-era facility - describing the conditions as "awful".

He served 78 days for shoplifting soap detergent, and had initially been given a suspended 32-week sentence but had breached it.

Bogle told reporters offenders were locked up for 23 hours a day. He said he knew of one prisoner who had recently taken his own life.

The early release scheme should continue, he said: "It's good. Tagging is better than prison".

Another man released from Wandsworth on Thursday - who declined to be named and said he had been sentenced for "taking things without paying for them" - said the prison was "so crowded even the rats are complaining".

Matthew Johnson, 35 also spoke of poor conditions as he expressed relief to be leaving Leeds Prison.

He said he had been released after six months from an 18 month sentence for actual bodily harm.

Asked what he would say to opponents of early release, he said: "You want to see what's inside these rooms, then you'll know.

"It's hectic. It's crowded. It's overcrowded – cells for one person with two people in them."

He added: "Staff are overwhelmed anyway with what they've got to cope with at the minute".

Back in London, a man who gave his name only as David as he left HMP Brixton said he did not believe the scheme could work, because of a lack of support for inmates on the outside.

He feared the justice system was "setting us up to fail".

"Stop sending people to prison in the first place. Help them before they get there," he said.

"I've been in and out of prison all my life. It's help I need", he added.

Under the scheme, eligible prisoners will be released after serving a third of their total custodial sentence rather than after 40% or 50% of their term.

Some 5,000 prisoners are scheduled to be released in stages over the next year, down from around 6,000 after a ministerial intervention that now means people sentenced for rape, serious child sex and grooming offences will be excluded.