Police today appealed to the family and friends of fugitive murder suspect John Anslow to give up his hiding place. He has been on the run for two days.

Dozens of officers from three forces are working to find Anslow after he was sprung from his prison van in an armed ambush.

Police say they cannot rule out the possibility that the 31-year-old – suspected of the murder of Chasetown father Richard Deakin – may have fled the country.

A £10,000 reward is on offer for information that leads to his return to prison.

Det Supt Martin Evans said today: “We’re directly appealing to friends or associates of Anslow who know where he might be to ring the incident room.”

Today, officers resumed the questioning of a 44-year-old man arrested when officers raided five addresses in Tipton on Monday.

Anslow was on his way to Stafford Crown Court when he was sprung from the van at 8.20am on Monday near Hewell Prison, Redditch. Three men broke the windows with sledgehammers and punched the driver.

Justice Secretary Clarke has ordered an inquiry.

Anslow is one of five men charged with the murder of former Walsall-based On Time Skip boss Deakin. Four other men, including two from Bilston and two from Wolverhampton, have been charged with murder.

Related stories:

• £10,000 reward in hunt for John Anslow
• Richard Deakin’s mother tells of fears
• Suspect killer on the loose after prison van ambush