POLICE are today still hunting a convicted murderer who has absconded from a Suffolk jail.Lawrence Philip Hughes, 28, who is serving a life sentence for murdering a girlfriend, was discovered missing from Hollesley Bay Prison, near Woodbridge, at 8pm on Saturday evening.

POLICE are today still hunting a convicted murderer who has absconded from a Suffolk jail.

Lawrence Philip Hughes, 28, who is serving a life sentence for murdering a girlfriend, was discovered missing from Hollesley Bay Prison, near Woodbridge, at 8pm on Saturday evening.

The prisoner from the Hoxne Unit was last seen at the jail at 6.50pm. He is known to have contacts in London and Hampshire.

Hughes is described as white, 5ft 7ins tall, with an oval face, brown hair, hazel eyes and is of medium build. He also has a large scar on his neck.

Police are urging anyone who should recognise him from the description not to approach him but to call 999.

The open prison has come under fire in the past, especially after as many as 12 prisoners went on the run in an eight month period at the end of 2000 and beginning of 2001, including three murderers.

The number of escapees from the prison, which houses four types of criminals including some of Britain's most hardened teenage offenders and adult killers, prompted an investigation from the Prison Service.

Local MP John Gummer has also criticised "serious faults" at the jail in the past and called for safeguards to stop inmates going on the run.

The process in which young offenders are chosen for the open jail has also been reviewed.