Lord Archer has been released from prison after serving two years of his four year sentence for perjury.

The disgraced peer left Hollesley Bay open prison soon after 8.00am on Monday.

He made no comment to the 60-strong media throng stationed outside the jail.

The peer was driven away by one of his sons as the media looked on.

It is expected that Archer, who will make regular contact with a probation officer, is set to move back into his Westminster penthouse.

Expelled from the Conservative Party, the peer is likely to stage a political comeback by focussing on the problems inside Britain's jails.

Lord Archer is scheduled to address the Howard League for Penal Reform in September.

He is also set to launch himself back into the charity auction circuit.

In a statement released to the Press Association prior to his release, the former Tory deputy chairman thanked his family for their support.

"I want to thank my wife Mary and my sons, William and James, for their unwavering and unstinting support during this unhappy period in my life," said the millionaire novelist.

"I should also like to thank the many friends who took the trouble to visit me in prison, as well as countless members of the public who sent letters, cards and gifts.

"I shall not be giving any interviews for the foreseeable future.

"However, I have accepted an invitation to address the Howard League for Penal Reform's conference at New College Oxford in September, and several requests to do charity auctions in the run-up to Christmas."

Labour MPs have expressed disquiet at Lord Archer's possible Westminster comeback.

Some want to see the law changed to prevent convicted criminals sitting in the upper house.