Almost 1,000 offenders let out early from prison are still at large despite being recalled for breaching the terms of their release.

The Ministry of Justice said an audit had found that 954 offenders released on licence since 1984 in England and Wales and then ordered to return to jail have yet to be tracked down.

The list included 20 murderers, 15 rapists and 140 burglars, the Ministry of Justice said. Police forces have launched an urgent search for the most serious violent and sexual offenders - including five paedophiles.

But officials refused to name those still at large - despite police forces issuing detailed wanted notices on some cases.

The Ministry of Justice said that at the end of March 954 offenders were still at large in England and Wales who had been recalled to prison for breaching the terms of their release.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said prison, parole and police forces have become better at tracking down absconded offenders since new performance goals were introduced in 2007.

He said that in the six months to March this year, some 70 per cent of offenders were returned within the targeted timescale, compared to 60 per cent in the same period a year earlier.

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