Police are currently working to locate a prisoner who may have escaped from HMP Haverigg.

Dean Walker, aged 32, from Manchester, is currently unaccounted for within the prison.

Police and prison staff have been searching the prison grounds throughout the afternoon (28th October) following a report of him going missing within the prison grounds at approximately 11.25am today.

Walker is understood to have stolen keys from a guard and got into a field which forms part of the Haverigg Prison complex and borders the beach.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Public protection is our top priority.

“Specially trained prison staff at HMP Haverigg are working closely with the police to locate an offender who has been missing since earlier today.”

Guidance Prison staff and police are searching the area.

At this stage the search is concentrating on a large piece of land contained within the secure perimeter of the prison.

Walker is described as a black male, with brown eyes and shaved black hair.

He is currently serving a sentence for robbery.

Chief Inspector Matt Kennerley said: “We are working hard to locate Walker and return him to custody and I would urge anyone who sees him to get in touch with us immediately so that we can trace him.

Walker has a history of violence and therefore I would urge members of the public not to approach him, but to call the police as soon as possible.

“We are working closely with HMP Haverigg and have a number of specialist resources deployed to find and return him to prison as swiftly as possible.” Anyone who see Walker should call Cumbria Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.