A man with mental health problems who escaped from an Oxford hospital seven days ago can be unpredictable and volatile, police warned today.

Leigh Cooper, 26, disappeared from the Warneford Hospital, where he is a patient, on Christmas Eve but police only released the details today.

Mr Cooper, who is from Oxford and expected to be in the area, claims to have recently become a Muslim and police believe he could be attracted to mosques and other Islamic institutions.

He is around 5ft 10ins, with ginger hair and a beard.

Mr Cooper is a sectioned patient under the Mental Health Act and officers have warned he should not be approached.

Anyone with information should contact police on 08458 505505.