Surrey Police is concerned for the welfare of a man who has been reported missing after he escaped from a mental health ward at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford.

27-year-old David Hutchinson, a patient detained under the Mental Health Act, was last seen near the hospital yesterday afternoon at around 3.50pm.

He was running in the direction of Rosalind Franklin Court.

Mr Hutchinson is described as white, 6ft, of medium build and with short dark hair. He has green eyes and was clean shaven.

He has several scars on his lower right arm and a large scar on his upper right arm.

He was wearing light blue jeans, a dark navy jacket, possibly a green striped t-shirt and dark trainers.

He is known to have connections to the Sussex area.

DS Chris Rambour of Surrey Police Missing Persons Unit said: “We are concerned for the safety of Mr Hutchinson as he poses a risk to himself and possibly members of the public.

“I would ask anyone who may have seen him not to approach him but to phone Surrey Police on the emergency 999 number. “Similarly I would urge Mr Hutchinson himself to contact officers as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information should call 999 quoting reference M/11/942.