A murderer is among two prisoners being hunted by police after they escaped from jail on New Year’s Day.
Avon and Somerset Police are frantically searching for convicted murderer Matthew Armstrong and Daniel Washbourne, who has a history of violent offences.
The pair absconded from HMP Leyhill between 5pm and 8pm on January 1.
A third prisoner who is suspected of escaping at the same time was arrested today.
Armstrong was convicted in the late-2000s of a murder that occurred during a robbery in Warwickshire, whilst Washbourne has previous convictions for violence and false imprisonment.
Armstrong, 35, is described as a white male, about 5ft 9ins tall, with ginger hair and scars on his forehead.
He was last seen wearing a burgundy or orange coat, a grey cap, grey tracksuit bottoms with blue on the side, and black boots.
Washbourne, 40, is described as a white male of around 5ft 6ins, slim, with brown hair and clean shaven.
Matthew Armstrong, 35, left, and Daniel Washbourne, 40, right, both absconded from HMP Leyhill on New Year’s Day
A CCTV image of the pair in what they were wearing on New Year’s Day
He was last seen wearing a cream fleece, blue tracksuit bottoms, a blue hat and black trainers.
The missing pair are not from the area around the prison in South Gloucestershire, and are known to have links around the country.
Armstrong is known to have links to Warwickshire, whilst Washbourne has connections in Herefordshire, according to police.
Anyone who sees the two men are urged to call 999 immediately, and quote the reference 5226000700.
Police also want to hear from anyone who has information on their whereabouts.
Urgent actions triggered by a prison escape have already been completed, police said, which includes alerting police systems around the country that the men are wanted.
Addresses have also been searched in the course of the investigation, but these have so far proved fruitless.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
