Convicted murderer Darren Jackson escapes from open prison in Derybshire

Police are appealing for information

Darren Jackson is a convicted murderer (Derbyshire Constabulary)

Police have launched a manhunt after a convicted murderer escaped from an open prison in Derbyshire.

Darren Jackson, 51, absconded from HMP Sudbury on Tuesday morning.

Jackson was sentenced to a life sentence in 1986 for killing a 29-year-old-mother as she walked home in Burnley, Lancashire in 1984.

He is white, six feet four inches tall and slim. He has has short cropped grey hair and a tribal tattoo on his wrist, police said.

His last known address is in Oldham and he has connections to Burnley.

Jackson has a history of attempted breakouts, having escaped from HMP Ranby, a category C prison near Nottingham, in 1997.

After three days at large he gave himself up in the Lancashire town of Nelson, the Derby Telegraph reported.

Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.