TWO prisoners were on the run last night after escaping during a fight on board a police van in Glasgow.

The vehicle was returning to Barlinnie Prison when a disturbance broke out at around 5.40pm.

Six of the 17 prisoners escaped through the back door after overwhelming a police officer.

Four were recaptured after a search, involving a police helicopter and sniffer dogs, but Strathclyde Police last night confirmed that two were still at large in the south side of the city.

They were described as being in their late teens and were handcuffed together when they escaped. Neither is thought to be dangerous, but it is understood one was on remand accused of a violent crime.

Three of the police officers on board the bus received minor injuries during the incident.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: ''While two police officers were intervening in the disturbance, which involved many, but not all of the 17 prisoners on board, six prisoners, all handcuffed in pairs, allegedly overpowered a third police officer and escaped from the rear of the bus as it stood in Landressy Street near Bridgeton Cross.

''Police officers on board the bus immediately raised the alarm and local officers attended to assist. One of the handcuffed pairs was recaptured almost immediately, and a second handcuffed pair was recaptured shortly after in nearby Cathedral Square.''

All the prisoners had appeared at either Glasgow Sheriff Court or Glasgow District Court earlier in the day, and had been remanded.