MISSING murderer William Kerr is no longer believed to be in North Yorkshire, police have said.

Kerr, 53, was jailed for life for murder in 1998, but released on licence in January. North Yorkshire Police were contacted by the National Offender Management Service after Kerr, who speaks with a Scottish accent, absconded from approved premises in Hull.

Detective Inspector Eamonn Clarke said Kerr should not be approached by the public, and detectives now believed he was in the London area.

Det Insp Clarke said: "To assist our already extensive efforts to trace William Kerr, I am urging people to keep an eye out for the man in the photographs. We believe he is now in the London area and he may be trying to book into a hostel or other accommodation using a false name as he has done previously.

"William, you know you have breached your licence conditions, and by continuing to do so you are only making things worse. It is now time to do the right thing and hand yourself in to the police."

If you have any information about Kerr's whereabouts, phone 999 immediately, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.