Police have launched a manhunt for a violent prisoner following his escape from a high-security jail in Staffordshire county, media reported.

Haroon Ahmed, 26, escaped from Dovegate prison, Mirror online reported.

Police suspect that Ahmed is in the Derby area where he has numerous connections.

Officers on Friday arrested his brother, Majeed Ahmed, 25, and have charged him with assisting a prisoner in escaping from prison.

He has been released on bail to appear before magistrates in Burton on June 25.

Ahmed is believed to be in the Derby area, where he is from.

His brother, Majeed Ahmed, 25, of Clarence Road, Derby, has been charged with assisting a prisoner in escaping from prison.

He has been released on bail to appear before magistrates in Burton on 25 June.

A black Volkswagen Golf recovered as part of the investigation has been forensically examined.

Michael Guy, Serco’s director at HMP Dovegate, said: “We are taking this extremely seriously and I have commissioned an urgent investigation into the circumstances of the escape reports Sky News.

“We are working closely with the police to identify what went wrong and to address any failings.”

HMP Dovegate was criticised by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in a report published .

It found there were high levels of violence in the jail and said visiting arrangements were poor.