David Blagdon, who was jailed for life after setting fire to church curtains, has gone missing from a police bail hostel in Oxford.

David Blagdon

Mr Blagdon disappeared just days before the Home Office revoked a licence placing restrictions on him following his release in August after serving 24 years in prison.

He was expected to commit no more offences, report daily to probation officers and meet regularly with psychiatrists.

Mr Blagdon, 51, from Kingston Lisle, near Wantage, could have been sent back to jail if he violated his licence.

Oxford police spokesman Lucy Ferguson said on October 25: "We do not believe he is a danger to the public, but are keen to locate him as soon as possible."

Mr Blagdon's solicitor, Anita Bromley, said she believed he was still missing because he feared he would be sent back to prison and never released again if he gave himself up.

But police declined to say if Mr Blagdon faced any punishment if he was found.

He went missing fom his bail accommodation in Oxford on October 11. His prison licence was revoked by the Home Office on October 18.

Mr Blagdon had spent the past two months rebuilding his life and had begun work on a building site in London.

He was commuting to the capital to work on a daily basis and has friends there.

Campaigners from across the world had lobbied for Mr Blagdon's release. He was jailed for life for setting fire to curtains in St Laurence's Church, South Hinksey, in 1978.

These included friends William and Muriel Birch, of North Leigh, who had campaigned for his freedom and had come to regard him as their adopted son.

He had visited the couple regularly taking bunches of flowers.

But they had not seen him for weeks, and Mrs Birch said she was concerned about his welfare.