Parc Prison replaced older style establishments

She added that it could be years before the facility was up and running.

Ms Williams said the female prison population was growing very quickly.

She also added that it was important for women prisoners in Wales to be as close as possible to their families.

When Parc Prison was constructed, the issue of accommodating woman prisoners at a later stage was considered.

It is believed that approximately 100 Welsh women are being kept at English prisons.

Parc was the subject of protests earlier this year by villagers concerned at proposals to house a halfway hostel in the prison grounds.

On the day that the women inmate plans were revealed, a petition of over 4,500 signatures was delivered to Bridgend Council objecting to the hostel proposal.

Residents fear the hostel would be used to accommodate sex offenders, who would be able to roam the community unchecked - a claim the prison has denied.