READING gaol has officially been put up for sale the Ministry of Justice has revealed and they are accepting bids from all parties.

The grade II listed building, where playwright Oscar Wilde was incarcerated for homosexual offences, has been put on the market six years after it closed.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "The site of the former Reading prison has now been listed for sale.

"We will always seek the best outcome for the taxpayer and the money received from the sale will be invested back into our prisons.

“The Prime Minister recently announced an extra £2.5 billion to create 10,000 additional prison places that will boost rehabilitation and cut reoffending.”

They explained they will be considering conditional and unconditional bids from all parties. 

Campaigners have been working to save the site and turn it into an arts hub including Reading East MP Matt Rodda whose petition has reached over 6,000 signatures.

Mr Rodda explained: "I'm disappointed that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has advertised the prison to the highest bidder.

"However, I'm going to continue to campaign for it to be sold to the local community and I'm working with Reading Borough Council and local arts groups to see if an alternative community led bid can be developed."

He continued: "I'm very grateful for all the support for the petition to save the gaol and I would ask anyone who has not signed to put pressure on the MoJ to do the right thing."

READ MORE: Campaigners meet to discuss Reading gaol as petition reaches 6,000 signatures.

A massive group hug around the gaol is taking place on October 13 in a bid to save the jail.