Prisoners should be allowed to vote in elections, a cross-party group of MPs has said.

Calls were made on Tuesday for the 134-year-old law that bars prisoners from voting to be overturned.

A campaign was launched by politicians from the three main parties, church leaders and prison reform groups who argued offenders should be allowed to vote on issues affecting the communities they would one day join.

The law that bans prisoners from voting is still contained in the current Representation of the People Act 1983 but the original act dates back to 1870.

Just seven other European countries also have a voting ban on convicts including Armenia, Bulgaria and Romania.

Europe

Courts in England and Wales now lock up 141 people for every 100,000 in the population - the highest rate in Europe.

Among those backing the campaign is the chief inspector of prisons Anne Owers, former Conservative minister Peter Bottomley and senior Labour MP David Winnick.

Both the Prison Reform Trust and the Prison Governors' Association have also given their support to the calls for change.

"If we want people to return to their communities as law-abiding citizens, we must encourage them to play a positive part in shaping their futures by their own efforts and commitment," said Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten.