A SEX offender with links to Teesside who absconded during a day visit two weeks ago has been located in Blackpool.

Malcolm Millman was detained under the mental health act when he was found in the Lancashire town at 8.30pm last night (Tuesday, November 3).

The 58-year-old absconded during a day visit to a monastery in Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, at about 2pm on Saturday October 24 and had failed to return to Chadwick Lodge, a secure facility in Milton Keynes, whose care he was under.

Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Brown, from Thames Valley Police's major crime unit, said: "I would like to thank officers and members of the public across the country for their help in locating Millman.

"In particular I want to thank the officers and public in Greater Manchester and Blackpool.

"This has been a complex search operation involving many agencies working together and I am pleased it has now successfully concluded and Millman is detained."

Millman had been seen at Manchester Airport railway station and also in Leeds. He had links to Teesside as well as other parts of the country.