Police have issued an appeal after two men have absconded from HMP Kirkham.

The two men Daniel Plaice and Steven Ford were last seen together at about 6pm on Sunday.

A spokesman for Lancashire police said: "Plaice, 40, from Bishop Auckland, was jailed for five years and 10 months at Teesside Crown Court in 2018 for attempted robbery, possession of a bladed article and burglary.

"He is described as being 5ft 7in tall and of medium build.

"He had short brown straight hair, blue eyes and speaks with a North East accent.

"He has various distinct tattoos on his neck, arms and legs including a Tasmanian devil wearing a death cloak, ‘Made in England’ and a skull with a dagger.

"Plaice has links to Cleveland, Durham, Cumbria and Lancashire."

The second man, Ford, 41, was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court in 2018 to three years and six months in prison for burglary and dangerous driving.

Lancashire police continued: "The 41-year-old from Stockton on Tees is described as being 5ft 11in tall of medium to large build.

"He has short brown hair and blue eyes and speaks with a North East accent.

"He has various tattoos including ‘Angel’ on his neck, a bulldog on his shoulder and ‘Fordy’ on his left hand.

"Ford has links to Cleveland and Lancashire."

Anyone with information about where they might be should call 101 or Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Kirkham Prison is a Category D men's prison where prisoners are able to serve their sentence in open conditions.