Post Office scandal: TV drama forces Rishi Sunak to announce new law clearing 736 convicted subpostmasters

Hundreds of subpostmasters wrongly convicted in one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history are to be have their convictions quashed after an ITV drama prompted a public outcry.

Following a two-decade long battle for justice, those caught up in the scandal will finally have their good names restored by the end of the year.

There will also be a new upfront payment of £75,000 for some of those affected after Rishi Sunak said innocent people embroiled in the fiasco would be "swiftly exonerated and compensated''.

Ministers denied they had acted because of public anger over the ITV programme Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.

But No 10 suggested that Alan Bates could receive finally bowed to intense public pressure and returned her CBE.