The Scottish Government is to pump additional funds into a scheme which aims to keep short-term prisoners out of jail.

The Low Moss Public Social Partnership (PSP) works with 750 prisoners every year, helping tackle the chaos in their lives and the conditions which are likely to lead to them re-offending.

The project was designed and delivered by charities and the public sector, with advice from prisoners and ex-offenders and will now be extended until March 2017 after ministers agreed £200,000 of extra funding.

It helps short-term prisoners secure housing, apply for jobs and improve relationships with their families and communities, so that they are settled and better able to adapt to a crime-free life once they leave prison.

Prisoners get a key worker and a personal care plan for the duration of the sentence, and up to a year after they leave.

Results from the first year of the pilot project in 2013/14, found of the 201 prisoners released, only 30 had returned to custody by 2014.

One man who had not been out of custody for longer than six weeks over a 17 year period has now spent the last 18 months in the community.

This latest investment in Low Moss PSP brings the total support from the Scottish Government's third sector budget to more than £634,000. The project is also funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the Robertson Trust.

Dale, 27, is one of those taking part was a criminal from the age of 15, when he began drinking and trying drugs and was charged with assault. Over the next decade, he was repeatedly jailed. He said: "Before this the only way I knew to support myself was to terrorise my community and live a chaotic lifestyle."

"It's different with the PSP; they didn't force me to work with them and they fight my corner. They want what's best for me and they've made sure they can source the help I need."

Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess, who will visit the scheme at HMP Low Moss today [Tues] said: "Investing £200,000 to ensure this pilot is extended will make a massive difference to the individual lives of prisoners. Some of these prisoners were in and out of prison on a regular basis and were not getting support to find a house, a job or do anything constructive with their time. It is helping to reduce reoffending and motivating people to take a more positive path."

Martin Cawley, chief executive of the lead charity in the scheme, Turning Point Scotland, said the new funding would ensure work continued to address the underlying issues which contribute to offending.