A CONVICTED murderer has gone on the run from Askham Grange Prison, near York.

Claire McDermott, 28, who is believed to have walked out of the prison at Askham Richard while serving the final part of her sentence, is not considered a danger to the public.

McDermott, originally from Leicester, was regularly seen at Emperors Gym, Skeldergate, York, where she worked for the past two to three months as part of a day release scheme.

Gym manager Stuart Perrin said he was informed of McDermott's disappearance by the Prison Service.

He said police had also visited the gym, but declined to say anything more.

The alarm was raised on the evening of April 14, when McDermott was not present for her security roll check.

Sergeant David Hannan, of North Yorkshire Police, said officers had been informed about the missing woman and if they came across her they would return her to prison, but the incident was being handled by the Prison Service.

McDermott was jailed for life in 1995 for murdering mother-of-one Lisa Morris. The judge recommended she serve at least nine years behind bars.

She would have been due for early release from the open prison next year.

The family of Lisa Morris, from Eyres Monsell, Leicester, said her escape should dash any hopes of an early release.

Her father, Colin, said: "She should go back inside for life. She's abused the system and she should be sentenced for absconding too, when they catch up with her."

McDermott murdered Lisa Morris after going to her home to look for another girl with whom she was angry.

Lisa tried to calm her but McDermott told her to shut up and stabbed her in the chest with a kitchen knife.

Updated: 11:36 Monday, April 28, 2003