A CONVICTED armed robber who absconded from an open prison almost two weeks ago has been arrested in Hampshire.

David Blood, who was one of eight men on the run from Ford Prison, in West Sussex, was arrested in Winchester at about 7pm yesterday.

The 48-year-old was jailed for life at Stafford Crown Court 11 years ago for his part in a post office robbery in the West Midlands in December 2000.

Blood, who walked out of the prison on June 12, will appear at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court tomorrow charged with escaping from lawful custody.

Sussex Police has set up a unit to review absconders from the jail and since November, 26 offenders, including Blood, have been recaptured. A further 86 are still missing.