A tattooed man with connections in Banbury is being sought by police after escaping from a prison van in Hampshire.

Michael Andrew Tutt, 24, of Swanmore, near Southampton, escaped from police custody on Friday morning while being transferred from a vehicle at Eastleigh police station.

He was last seen in Eastleigh wearing handcuffs.

Tutt is described as white, 5ft 10ins tall, with spiky hair and acne on his face.

He has a tattoo of a dragon and an animal on his left arm, a tattoo of barbed wire and various symbols on his right arm, the words 'Michael' and 'Verity' tattooed on his chest, and a tattoo of a dragon and panther on his back.

He was wearing a blue/grey t-shirt and light blue jeans.

Det Insp Lloyd Tobin, of Eastleigh CID, said: "We are asking members of the public who see a man matching Tutt's description to contact police immediately. He should not be approached."

Police have searched the Eastleigh area but they believe Tutt has links in the Banbury area and are making enquiries in north Oxfordshire.

Tutt is on remand for burglary and robbery offences and was being taken to Eastleigh police station from Winchester Prison for questioning.

Anyone who sees him is asked to contact police by dialling 999.