A cafe has opened at an Eastchurch jail with the aim of rehabilitating prisoners.

The Old Mill Coffee Shop is within the Sheppey Prison Cluster, in Church Road, but it is open to members of the public.

People working on the Sustainable Sheppey schemes nearby are also expected to be regular customers.

Vegetables grown from the ecological project’s polytunnels have been earmarked for use in salads sold in the coffee shop in the future.

Inmates from Standford Hill prison, which is a category D open jail where some prisoners are approaching the end of their sentences, will work in the cafe.

The business offers hot and cold snacks, outside seating, tea or barista-style style drinks from the national chain Coffee Republic.

Members of Eastchurch Parish Council, Sheppey Matters and Blue Town Heritage Centre were at the shop for its opening on Friday, August 9.

Karen Boosey, community engagement manager for Standford Hill, said: “It will give our prisoners some useful skills and staff access to more facilities which we haven’t had before.

“So far the prisoners get a lot of job satisfaction.

“They are quite proud of everything. They seem to be very keen on what they are producing.”