POLICE are appealing for information after a registered sex offender with links to the region went missing from a bail hostel.

William Anthony Knowles, 44, was due to sign on at the hostel in Bury, Lancashire, at 3pm yesterday, but failed to do so. He has not been seen since.

Knowles, who has connections to North Yorkshire, has a history of grooming and sexually abusing children. He is also known to target vulnerable mothers in order to gain access to their children.

Knowles is white, with short dark hair, 5ft 9in and of average build. He speaks with a strong Northern Irish accent, has a scar on his right cheek and Anthony tattooed on his right arm.

He is also believed to have a cut on the palm of his right hand and a scar on his right finger. When he went missing, he was wearing a dark collared sweatshirt.

Knowles is known by several aliases, including Sean William McAlpine, James or Jimmy Duran, Patrick Duran and Billy Nolan.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked not to approach him, but to contact police on 0161- 856 0040, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.