A prison ship condemned as "cramped and claustrophobic" could be moored in the Thames off the south Essex coast.

The Metropolitan Police are in talks with the Home Office about moving the vessel Weare - Britain's first prison ship - from Portland in Dorset to the Thames.

And although discussions are still ongoing, Scotland Yard today refused to rule out a mooring berth for the container-like ship off south Essex.

The Met wants the ship moved closer to the capital to increase the area's jail capacity for prisoners, with police cells and prisons such as Pentonville and Brixton bursting at the seams.

A spokesman at Scotland Yard today confirmed the force was considering various locations along the Thames, but declined to reveal which were under discussion. "We are not going to get into that at this stage," she said.

"We are currently looking into ship's condition and its suitability." A decision is expected by the end of the month.

And a spokesperson for the Home Office said: "We don't even know if the Met are going to buy it yet so I know nothing about its planned location.

"We need to make a decision about the future of the ship and the Met have voiced an interest."