A convicted murderer is on the run after escaping during a hospital visit.
Shaun Walmsley was one of four people serving a life sentence in connection with the killing of Anthony Duffy, who was fatally stabbed in Aintree in 2014.
The 28-year-old fled outside Fazakerley Hospital on Tuesday afternoon when two men armed with weapons confronted the officers driving him back to prison.
Merseyside Police believe that the pair were carrying a gun and a knife at the time of the armed escape and both had their faces covered.
Both men are said to have threatened the guards and demanded that they released Walmsley before making off in a gold-coloured Volvo car.
Walmsley is described as white, 6ft in height and of slim build, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing dark bottoms and a dark jacket.
One of the armed men was wearing white shoes, grey tracksuit bottoms with a stripe down each side, a grey hoody and a dark coat.
A second man was wearing a green coat, dark Nike trainers and grey tracksuit bottoms. Members of the public have been warned not to approach the men.