A DANGEROUS sex offender has escaped from a hostel in West Yorkshire.

Craig Preece, 40, went missing from the hostel - at an undisclosed location - at 9.55pm on Friday.

Preece, a convicted sex offender, was out of jail on licence but this was revoked when he went missing.

Police say Preece is a particular danger to young boys and should not be approached by the public.

Today they took the unusual step of releasing his name and photograph to help track him down.

Preece is thought to have connections with Lancashire.

Lancashire and West Yorkshire police have joined forces to make extensive inquiries and are asking the public to dial 999 if they see anyone who looks like Preece.

He is 5ft 6in tall, slim, with short, brown, receding hair. He wears steel-rimmed glasses and was last seen wearing a fawn coat and blue jeans. He walks with a limp.