POLICE in the region have released details and photographs of six men they want to talk to about a variety of offences.

Local people are being asked to be the "eyes and ears'' of Cleveland Police, who are appealing for their help in tracking the men down.

Officers have drawn a blank in their hunt for the six, who include a motorist who escaped from prison after being sentenced to seven years for driving into a family-of-three, killing a pensioner.

The Teesside force's six "most wanted" men are:

Dominic Huggett

Huggett, 35, was driving a BMW in Westbury Street, Thornaby, when he drove into a family-of-three as they got out of a taxi. An 86-year-old woman was killed and her son and daughter-in-law severely injured.

Huggett was jailed for seven years but escaped from Wealstun prison, near Wetherby, West Yorkshire. He is still at large.

Abdullah Shakawan Mohammed

On May 11, 2001, a serious sexual offence was committed against a 14-year-old boy. Mohammed, 25, was arrested and interviewed, but failed to answer his police bail at Stockton.

Lee Justin Agus West

West, 24, was arrested and interviewed about a house burglary in Billingham, on February 6, last year. He denied the offence and was released pending forensic inquiries. Officers are keen to speak to him. He is also wanted by police in Leicester for burglary at commercial premises.

Jason Dean Banthorpe

Banthorpe, 35, allegedly assaulted his ex-wife in October of last year at Stockton. Police are keen to speak to Banthorpe about the alleged assault.

Barry Mitchinson

Mitchinson, 31, was found to be in possession of 35.1 grams of heroin when he was stopped by a police patrol in Lazenby High Street, near Redcar, in east Cleveland, in June 1998. He was arrested, interviewed and bailed to return to Redcar police station two months later, but failed to attend. Police still want to trace him.

John Michael Brougham

Brougham, 28, is wanted for the theft of a Daihatsu four-track, which was taken from Billingham town centre in December 2000 and later recovered in Bishop Auckland.

Police also want to talk to Mitchinson about burglaries in Hull, Derby and Nottinghamshire.

Detective Inspector Rob Donaghy, of the force's intelligence bureau, said: "Some people think that if they escape the clutches of police for a few weeks, they will be forgotten about. Nothing is further from the truth.

"We never give up and those that we seek will always remain on a wanted list."

People with information on any of the six men are asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or 01642 326326.