A ROBBER from the North-East remained on the run from prison last night.

George Skelton, from North Shields, North Tyneside, broke out of Haverigg Prison, near Millom, in Cumbria, and could be heading back to the region.

He escaped on Saturday by climbing a wire fence while working at the prison farm.

The 29-year-old, who has served one year of a six-and-a-half-year sentence, then fled on foot.

Police said no one else was involved and have warned members of the public not to approach him.

Officers in Cumbria have alerted the Northumbria force, which was yesterday checking on known addresses.

Skelton was spotted at the Southwaite service station on the M6 - halfway between Penrith and Carlisle - and an officer tried to arrest him.

But Skelton assaulted him before escaping in a blue Vauxhall Astra, which was later found abandoned. The officer suffered cuts to his face but was not seriously injured.

Skelton is then believed to have run on to farmland and has not been seen since.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call Cumbria Police, on (01768) 891999.