A PRISONER transport van was dramatically halted on its way to court after one of its passengers fell ill during the trip.

A heavy police presence and an ambulance surrounded the van shortly after 8.30am on Thursday morning after staff called for back-up.

Officers from Thames Valley Police were on hand to make sure the prisoner was safely transferred to an ambulance from the van before he was whisked off to Royal Berkshire Hospital.

It emerged that the man had lost consciousness at the scene in Christchurch Road, Reading, near Cintra park.

The commotion caused lengthy tailbacks as the van was forced to park up on the pavement, meaning traffic had to snake around it.

People could be seen stopping and staring at the emergency services trying to discover what had happened.

A spokesman for Geoamey, the firm charged with transporting prisoners from location to location, said: "I can confirm that at approximately 8.30am on 1st December 2016 a prisoner travelling to Reading Magistrates court required medical assistance."

Paramedics from South Central Ambulance Service assessed the man at the scene before it was decided he needed to go to hospital.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police added: "A man was unconscious at the scene and received treatment. He regained consciousness and has now been taken to hospital for further treatment."