A BURNLEY man is on the run after escaping from a Lancashire prison.

Police chiefs today pledged to put Ahad Miah back behind bars and called for help in finding him.

Miah, 22, of Arley Gardens was ten days into a four-month prison sentence at Kirkham Prison, near Preston for a string of driving offences which included forcing a van off a motorway in his car.

He fled jail on Saturday, March 18.

Kirkham is a Category D prison designated for short and medium term prisoners, plus a number of long term men nearing the end of their sentences and selected life sentence prisoners.

Today police appealed to Miah's family and friends for information for to help return him to prison.

Inspector Damian Darcy, of Burnley police, said: "This man should be in jail and we want to capture him and put him back.

"He's well known in the local community so we are appealing to friends and family and other people in the community who may know his whereabouts.

He said he would remind people that it is an offence to harbour criminals.

Miah was found guilty of careless driving and having no licence, insurance or MOT, after a trial in his absence at Blackpool magistrates in February.

A court was previously told that on March 12 the defendant was in a Vauxhall Vectra on the M55.

He drove in front of a van causing the driver to brake sharply.

Miah then increased and decreased his speed, pushing the van on to the hard shoulder and colliding with it.