Police have received a flurry of sightings and searched nine homes as they continue to hunt a man wanted over a string of violent armed robberies.

Detectives named 23-year-old Jon Shirley as their chief suspect for an armed robbery on a BP garage in Cherwell Drive, Oxford, last Friday and are linking him with 11 others in Oxford and Wheatley.

Shirley remained at large tonight but officers – including PCSOs Paul Gregory, right, and Ken Cooney, left – showed wanted posters to members of the public and shopkeepers.

Det Chief Insp Colin Paine said 10 people had reported seeing Shirley since officers released his picture.

Nine homes in Oxford and Wheatley had been visited by police searching for Shirley, Mr Paine added.

He said: “Arresting Shirley remains the number one priority for Oxford and we ask the public to be on the lookout for him and to contact police immediately if you have any information about him, however insignificant you think it may be.

“I appeal to Shirley directly – give yourself up, it is only a matter of time until you are tracked down and arrested.”

Anyone with information should call 999 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.