TWO convicted criminals who went on the run after being released early from prison are back behind bars.

John Hodgkinson, 26, from Bacup, who stole his sick grandma's life savings and James MacDonald, from Church, who had been jailed for assault, have been caught by police and sent back to prison.

Hodgkinson was condemned by his own family after he stole £6,600 belonging to his gran, Mary Ellis, when she went into hospital.

Hodgkinson, formerly of Burnley Road, Bacup, was jailed for 168 days by Burnley magistrates last April after admitting theft.

He was allowed out of prison early on licence from his sentence but failed to stick to his release conditions and Lancashire Constabulary issued an alert for his arrest.

Police have confirmed that he has now been arrested in Manchester.

MacDonald was tracked down to Scotland by police and has been returned to the North West to serve the outstanding portion of his sentence.

He had served an undisclosed prison sentence for assault before his release.

Both had been listed as on the run' by the Lancashire Constabulary website.

Inspector John Clucas, confirming the arrests of Hodgkinson and MacDonald, said: "We are chasing these up much more quickly now thanks to the web site."

He urged the public to continue to assist their investigations - or for listed offenders to hand themselves in to the authorities.

Police are still trying trace convicted armed robber and Sean Connery lookalike Stuart Muldoon, who has strong connections with East Lancashire.

He was jailed for life in 2000 for his involvement over a string of armed raids across South Wales.

Muldoon, also known by his given name of William Stuart Ford, had been recalled to prison once before in 2004 and served an extra seven months.

Released on a conditional licence from prison in January 2006 he built up connections in the Accrington and Great Harwood areas. But after failing to notify police of his movements a fresh appeal has been issued for his return to custody.

Also wanted by police for a return to prison are Thomas Badzo, 22, from Burnley, who was jailed for 18 months in April 2006 for burglary and affray, and Sufryan Mohammed, 27, also from Burnley, who was sentenced for theft in September 2005.