THE Scottish Prison Service has been asked to find alternatives to Scotland's only women's prison.

The closure of Cornton Vale was recommended in a report on female offending published in April.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has said a major shake-up of the way the criminal justice system deals with women offenders will begin immediately.

The Scottish Government says it accepts 33 of the 37 recommendations of the Commission on Women Offenders report written by former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini, and will also examine the remaining four recommendations in more detail.

The commission said the jail, near Stirling, should be replaced with a smaller specialist prison for long-term and high-risk offenders, as well as regional units to hold short-term and remand prisoners.

It follows inspection reports highlighting overcrowding and other problems at Cornton Vale.

Mr MacAskill said: "The commission's recommendations are ambitious and provide a challenge not just to the Scottish Government and to our public services more widely, but to Scottish society as a whole.

"Changes to our prison estate cannot be delivered quickly or cheaply."

Labour justice spokesman Lewis Macdonald MSP said: "It is regrettable that it has taken this long for Kenny MacAskill to be shaken into action, despite incredibly worrying reports about Cornton Vale."

Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Alison McInnes MSP said: "We need a strong and concerted effort from the Scottish Government to implement the necessary changes."