Appeal for support for prisoners' children

Prisoners' children are more likely to offend and suffer from mental health problems unless they receive more support, according to a charity.

Person Shaped Support, which helps children whose parents are in prison, has urged the government to begin funding support for the estimated 230,000 children in the UK who have a parent in jail.

"Bethany" was eight when her mother went to prison, while 15-year-old "Jack" spent his teens with both parents in jail.

Bethany, now 13, told BBC Radio 5 live's Victoria Derbyshire: "You do not give up on them. You go through it with them."

The Ministry of Justice said prisoners were encouraged to maintain family links and the government had recently given Barnardo's £1m to support professionals working with offenders' families.