WEST Dorset MP Oliver Letwin will find himself behind bars next month when he takes part in a four-day challenge.

He will be swapping the corridors of Westminster for the landings of Belmarsh Prison as part of the Conservative Party's Inner City Challenge.

Mr Letwin, the party's policy director, will be working with Bristol-based charity Believe for the venture, which has been organised by the Centre for Social Justice.

During the challenge he will not only be working in the London jail, but will be mentoring prisoners and even sleeping in a young offenders' hostel.

Mr Letwin described the challenge, which starts on March 5, as an 'adventure' which would offer him an insight into problems facing inner city areas.

He said: "It's one thing to read research about these things, but completely different to experience them.

"Although when I was Shadow Home Secretary I spent a lot of time going around prisons and drug rehabilitation centres I have not immersed myself in it for four days.

"It will be an adventure."

A spokesman for the Centre For Social Justice said Mr Letwin will see at first hand the work carried out by Believe, which carries out mentoring, training and intervention programmes for young and repeat offenders.

"The proposed itinerary includes bricklaying, wallpapering and carpentry with young offenders, joining in on a group support session for offenders transitioning back into society."

A spokesman for Believe added: "We will make the most of the opportunity of spending four days to influence the policy chief.

"We want to ensure Mr Letwin encounters the personal realities of life for those in and out of custodial sentencing."