A TELEVISION appeal on Crimewatch UK last night for information about an escaped killer resulted in new leads.

Forty calls were received giving information about fugitive Thomas Tangney, the biggest response to crimes featured on the show last night.

Tangney, 49, who escaped from Ford Open Prison, near Arundel, on March 1, is described as extremely violent.

After more than three weeks on the run, police were hoping national exposure on the popular TV programme could help to close the net on 49-year-old Tangney.

The former heroin addict's picture was screened on the 10pm show, presented by Jill Dando and Nick Ross.

Tangney was given a 99-year prison sentence at the Old Bailey in 1980 for blasting a pensioner to death with a shotgun.

He also admitted at the trial that he had burgled the home of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

He had already escaped from a prison near Sudbury, Suffolk, before he was moved to Ford in June last year, and there have been calls for an inquiry since Tangney escaped from the open prison.

PC Chris Saunders, who was taking calls at the TV studio last night, said around 40 people phoned with information.

He said: "We had a huge number of calls, the best response of all the crimes featured on the programme last night."

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