Proposals to protect burglars from violent householders have been slammed by west Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison.

Dr Murrison said leaked Home Office documents showed government lawyers were advising ministers to start protecting burglars against violent vigilantes.

The MP said he is now worried about a flood of civil injury claims from offenders.

He said: "In west Wiltshire only one in eight burglaries are ever solved meaning most burglars are never brought to justice.

"The last thing we need is the government allowing convicted first-time burglars to escape jail and for burglars to bring civil cases against their victims.

"The government appears to be more worried about upholding the rights of burglars than those of their victims."