A murderer who was serving a minimum of 30 years in prison is on the run after escaping during an escorted hospital visit in Liverpool.
Two men threatened prison officers with a gun and a knife as Shaun Walmsley escaped outside Aintree Hospital.
The mayor of Liverpool is calling for an "immediate inquiry" after a drug-dealing murderer Shaun Colin Walmsley was helped by two men to escape after a hospital appointment.
The 28 year old fled from outside Aintree University Hospital as he was getting into a vehicle with prison officers.
Labour's Liverpool Mayor, Joe Anderson, said he is "angry and incredibly shocked" by the "serious security breach", and is currently waiting for a full briefing into what happened.
Mr Anderson said it is a "tense time" in the city of Liverpool following recent murders and that to him it looks like Walmsley has been able to plan the escape well in advance.
He also said his understanding is that the two prison officers and Walmsley turned up to the hospital appointment in a taxi, but that he is waiting for confirmation of this.
An escaped prisoner serving a 30-year term for murder could find himself £20,000 out of pocket after police put up a reward using his money.
The reward is made up of £20,000 of Walmsley's own money, which was seized following his conviction for the murder of Anthony Duffy.
Police on the hunt for a prisoner who escaped from custody in Liverpool have arrested two people on suspicion of assisting an offender.