IT’S a sight many prisoners may have dreamed of - but it’s happened a little late for them now.

What looks like the aftermath of the ultimate jail escape is actually the end of the now-defunct Northallerton Prison - and it is the demolition contractors who are breaking out.

They have created a hole in the wall of the 3.5 acre site – to give better vehicular access for the brick crushing equipment needed to be brought in and the haulage vehicles needed to remove the debris.

The new access – opposite the fire station in Crosby Road – has also given contractors an idea of how easy removing the rest of the external wall will be. Work to remove the wall will now continue - with the wall replaced by hoarding to protect the development.

Hambleton District Council is set to redevelop the prison, which closed in 2013, with retail, leisure, education and housing on the list of possible uses.

It is currently looking for a developer partner - the shortlist is now down to two with a decision on the winning submission to be made by district councillors in February.

Demolition work is well advanced with work on the remaining buildings due to start in the next week.

Hambleton bought the site for £1.4m in 2015.