British construction experts are helping rebuild prisons in disaster-struck Haiti as part of a new aid network launched by the UK Government.

More than a thousand professionals from the UK are ready to deploy to countries emerging from conflict and crisis under the new Civilian Stabilisation Group.

Deployed with less than 24 hours notice, they will bring reconstruction and stabilisation expertise in fields ranging from law enforcement to building local institutions, a spokesman for the scheme said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "This 1,000-strong Civilian Stabilisation Group will further strengthen our ability to offer rapid help in rebuilding countries after conflict or disaster."

The group will boost the civilian effort in countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, Kosovo, Georgia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The unit is deploying civilian experts to help the Haitian government in its efforts to rebuild prisons and help the World Bank identify priority needs.

Mr Brown added: "The new Civilian Stabilisation Group will combine the skills and energy of people both inside and outside government - helping bring the stability and humanitarian assistance that is urgently needed, but also hope for the future through reconstruction and development."

Sheelagh Stewart, head of the group, said: "The unit is the Government's centre of expertise and best practice in stabilisation, responding to the complex challenges of fragile and conflict-afflicted states.

"This is about getting the right people to fragile countries fast enough to reduce threats to their stability."

The magnitude 7.0 tremor which struck Haiti in mid-January killed more than 200,000 people and left more than one million people in need of aid.