A violent prisoner has been recaptured after four days on the run from Erlestoke jail near Devizes, Wiltshire.

Richard Phillips, 21, was arrested by Avon and Somerset police early on Saturday.

He was taken to Trinity Road police station in Bristol and later transferred to Bristol Prison.

His escape prompted a massive manhunt, involving military units on Salisbury Plain, helicopters and police sniffer dogs.

He has a history of violence and people were warned not to approach him.

'Trusted position'

Police say Phillips was arrested at 0820 GMT in Bristol following information from the public.

Inspector Martin Neil of Wiltshire police said: "He has been taken directly to Horefield prison in Bristol.

"I will say that he will not be returning to Erlestoke Prison, at this time, as he has lost the position of trust that allowed him to be there in the first place."

Phillips was discovered missing from his cell at the low-security training prison by a prison guard on 29 January.

Civilian clothing had also disappeared.

Phillips comes from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.

He was serving a three-and-a-half year sentence.