A 'dangerous sex offender' who had been on the run in Bradford has handed himself in to police.

William Anthony Knowles was seen in the city centre at around noon yesterday after arriving in the area by taxi.

He escaped from his hostel in Wakefield just before 10pm on Tuesday after giving officers the slip and an investigation has been launched into his disappearance.

He sparked a search across the county, but a spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said today he had handed himself in at a police station in Liverpool.

He said: "The police service wishes to thank the media and the public for their help."

Knowles was released last Friday after serving a four-year sentence for an indecent assault on a boy under ten.

Officers had warned the public not to approach Knowles, aged 39 and also known as Patrick Duran, as he posed a major threat to children.

He was on a curfew at the hostel lasting from 8pm to 8am, forced to wear an electronic tag and was under "stringent supervision".

Ian Lankshear, assistant chief probation officer for West Yorkshire confirmed an investigation had been launched into Knowles' escape.

He said: "Clearly we have to review the situation when something happens like this."