Prison officials in France have praised a scheme, that allows inmates to keep pets, for having a positive effect.

The Animal Affinity Club, which is run at Strasbourg's prison, sees inmates spending one hour with animals a day. Mediators and prisoners insist that the project is helping with rehabilitation.

"I know that I was very hot-tempered and this has really calmed me down. It lets me see other things than the walls. I really think that when I get out of here I'll take the animal with me," said one anonymous prisoner.

The animals include rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and birds, and each prisoner is responsible for feeding and watering their own pets.

Organiser Patricia Arnoux says being with the animals has helped some inmates to become more tolerant: "Well I would say that there are three main effects: the animal makes relations much calmer between the prisoners and also between the prisoners and the guards. It really lowers the tension in an area which already stands out in terms of violence, and it brings the person to work on a real job in terms of responsibility and self-confidence".

The Animal Affinity Club now aims to spread the concept to other prisons and institutions such as nursing homes.