A GROUP of people campaigning to free one of Britain’s most notorious prisoners have staged a protest outside the jail where he is incarcerated.

The campaigners, who are seeking the release of Charles Bronson, who now goes by the name of Charles Salvador, gathered outside HMP Frankland, in Brasside, near Durham.

Salvador, who has spent most of the last 43 years in solitary confinement in prison, was moved to the high security prison earlier this year.

Known as “the most violent prisoner in Britain”, he is serving a life sentence after kidnapping a teacher in 1999.

He had previously been serving time for armed robbery, during which time his sentence was extended on a number of occasions after he attacked other inmates, prison staff and staged a three-day rooftop protest.

The 65-year-old had previously been held at HMP Wakefield, another high security facility, where he married soap actress Paula Williamson in November.

Bronson, who was played by actor Tom Hardy in a 2008 film about his life, is said to have been moved to HMP Frankland after a clash with the deputy governor at Wakefield over his wedding photographs.

Supporter Paula Kitching, 39, from Newton Aycliffe, said they were protesting because of problems with Salvador’s post.

Ms Kitching, who started writing to the prisoner last October and has now become friends with his wife, said: “It’s having an impact on his life. It takes weeks for the letters to get out.

“He’s been a prisoner for such a long time that his letters are an important part of his life.”

Some of the group took part in a march in London in December, when a petition signed by 21,712 people was taken to Downing Street.

Started by Mrs Salvador, it calls for her husband to be given the chance to prove he has been rehabilitated.

It claims that he is no longer a violent offender but describes him as “an artist”.

She adds: “Both myself, Charlie and his supporters ask that he be taken off segregation and transferred to a category A or B prison and reintroduced into general population.

“Only then can he prove that he really is a changed man.”

Ms Kitching said: “I understand why he’s in there but 44 years when he’s never killed anyone or raped anyone.

“He does a lot for charity and for people who are struggling.

“I think very highly of the man because of his charity work. He’s so helpful. He’s very good at giving advice.

“I don’t agree with what he’s done in the past but he’s a lovely man. He’s got a heart of gold.”

Salvador changed his name in 2014 as a mark of respect to one of his favourite artists, Salvador Dali and to distance himself from his reputation.

Since then, the Charles Salvador Art Foundation has been set up to promote his work and raise money for charity.

Supporters say he has raised around £250,000 for various causes

Among the protestors outside HMP Frankland on Friday was Andrew Parkin, a mature student at Sunderland University, who designed the posters.

The artist, from Seaburn, started writing to Salvador after being diagnosed with bi-polar and is receiving help from him with his dissertation.