Three prisoners went on the run through the Wiltshire countryside after using a makeshift ladder to scale their jail fence in broad daylight.

But the men, who had escaped from Erlestoke Prison near Devizes yesterday, were spotted by two farm workers after taking their car. They called the police and within two hours Robert Deveney, 27, Samuel Kerrigan, 31, and 29-year-old Frank Riorden were captured after crashing the vehicle and fleeing on foot.

n Three men have been charged with escaping from unlawful custody, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, criminal damage and driving without insurance. They were due to appear at Chippenham Magistrates Court today.