The early release of Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs has been recommended by the Parole Board.

A decision on the release of the 79-year-old is expected within days, after the case was passed on to the Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

The Parole Board report said the risk Biggs posed was “manageable under the proposed risk management plan and consequently parole is recommended”.

The panel added: “In terms of his attitudes and risk areas there is little evidence beyond his increased age to suggest he would not return to his old criminal lifestyle.”

Biggs was a member of a 15-strong gang which attacked a mail train at Ledburn, Buckinghamshire, on 8 August 1963 and the robbers made off with £2.6m, a record haul at the time, but were captured shortly afterwards.

After being given a 30-year sentence, Biggs escaped from Wandsworth Prison, in a furniture van after spending 15 months in jail.

He was on the run for more than 30 years, living in Spain, Australia and Brazil, before returning to the UK, voluntarily, in 2001.