A dangerous rapist who escaped from a Bradford hostel was today being hunted by police.

An appeal was launched to trace Kelly James Edney, above, who went missing from the hostel while out on licence from prison.

West Yorkshire Police warned he was potentially dangerous and should not be approached.

The 26-year-old was reported missing from the hostel at 11.30pm on Monday and was last seen in the Allerton area at 9.45pm that day.

Edney also has connections with the Bridgwater area of Somerset and could be heading there. A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "We have released his details and a photograph as it is vital to trace him as soon as possible."

"He is considered a potentially dangerous sex offender and has been known to be violent."

Police believe he may be heading for Somerset, although they stressed he could be anywhere in the country.

The rapist was also convicted of making a series of hoax bomb threats while he was serving a prison term at Dartmoor in 2003.

He told the Samaritans he was going to blow up Gatwick and Heathrow Airports and Victoria train station in central London.

The calls caused widespread panic at a time of heightened tension following the September 11 attacks and the subsequent war on terror.

He admitted making 11 false threats over a two-month period in 2003 at Southwark Crown Court a year later and was sentenced to four years.

Edney was just 18 when he brutally raped a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Taunton, Somerset.

He pounced on his victim as she walked through the centre of Taunton on the way to a job interview.

He pulled the girl into an alleyway next to a busy car park and then gagged her with an old scarf.

He threatened the terrified teenager with a bottle before raping her.

Edney then frog-marched the girl through the busy streets of the town to the railway station, where he forced the sobbing teenager to stay with him until he boarded a train to Bristol.

Police launched a major manhunt for the rapist, who attacked his victim just a day after she celebrated her 16th birthday.

Edney had indulged in a five-day drugs binge shortly after being released from prison for other offences when he assaulted the girl.

He pleaded guilty to rape at Exeter Crown Court in 1998 and was initially sent to a young offenders' institution.

Edney is described as white, slim, 5ft 8ins tall, with dark brown, collar-length wavy hair.

He has various tattoos, including "home-made" crosses on both his forearms and the letters KJE on his back.

He has a mole on his left cheek and a scar on the left side of his face and scars on his right arm.

When last seen, Edney was clean-shaven and was wearing a black t-shirt, blue jeans and "very white" trainers.

Anyone who has seen him or anyone fitting his description should ring police immediately on 999.

Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "We have released his details and a photograph as it is vital to trace him as soon as possible."

"He is considered a potentially dangerous sex offender and has been known to be violent."

Police believe he may be heading for Somerset but stressed he could be anywhere in the country. The rapist was also convicted of a series of hoax bomb threats while serving a prison term at Dartmoor in 2003.

He told the Samaritans he was going to blow up Gatwick and Heathrow Airports and Victoria train station in central London.

The calls caused widespread panic at a time of heightened tension after the September 11 attacks and the subsequent war on terror. He admitted making 11 false threats over two months in 2003 at Southwark Crown Court a year later and was sentenced to four years. Edney was 18 when he brutally raped a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Taunton, Somerset.

He is white, slim, 5ft 8ins, with dark brown, collar-length wavy hair. He has tattoos, including "home-made" crosses on both forearms and the letters KJE on his back. He has a mole on his left cheek and a scar on the left side of his face. Police said Edney went from Bradford by taxi at 9.45pm on Monday, arriving at Leeds rail station at 10.15pm.

He was wearing a blue, long-sleeved sweatshirt with three white stripes down the side and an Adidas logo on the chest.

Witnesses should call Bradford North Police on (01274) 376259.