Lewes Prison's governor says his Victorian prison is unlikely to be one of those pulled down and replaced with an out of town alternative.

Governor Joe Dixon was speaking after a report from the director general of the Prison Service, Martin Narey, called for older Victorian jails, in prime town centre sites, to be sold off with money raised used to build newer prisons.

Lewes Prison, on the Brighton Road, would be worth millions if sold off for housing.

Mr Dixon said: "There are other prisons in town centre or city sites which would be sold off and replaced before Lewes, and even this report does not specify any ones that should be sold off. We are already on the outskirts of the town centre.

"It is very difficult to find sites for new prisons. They are usually built on land owned by the Ministry of Defence and I don't know of any MOD land available in Sussex that would be suitable for a prison to replace what we have at Lewes.

"Look at the problems Brighton and Hove Albion is having finding a spot for a stadium.

"Think of the difficulties in getting planning permission for a new prison.

"If there was a spot at Falmer for a new prison and say £50 million could be found to build a new prison there and planning permission was granted, then fair enough, but I can't see that happening."

Lewes Prison was built in 1852 and is one of 28 local Victorian prisons in England and Wales.

Others include Winchester, Leeds and Gloucester.

Millions have been spent on upgrading Lewes Prison and the ongoing refurbishment programme at Lewes does not include any plans for further new blocks or the demolition of the blocks.

Mr Dixon said: "There are other prisons which are worse than Lewes. We have to accept this is an old building and it costs a lot to maintain and get on with the job with the existing facilities.

"A prison is more than just a building."