Four burglars have escaped from custody only hours after being sentenced to ten years in prison. 
They were being transferred from the law courts in Manchester to Leister Prison. They had been found guilty of stealing electrical goods and money from shops in the area. It is thought that they were members of the same gang. They escaped from the van in which they were being transported, when the driver was forced to stop because of a tree across the road.
It is believed that the tree was placed there by other members of the gang, who had been informed of the route to be taken by the van. A full investigation of the events leading to escape has been ordered and anyone with information is asked to contact the police to help.