Police want the public to help them trace nine fugitives thought to be on the run in the Costa del Sol region of Spain.

Among those on the “most wanted” list are men wanted for murder, serious violent offences, robbery and for their roles in multi-million pound drug trafficking rings.

They include Noel Cunningham, 46, who escaped from a prison van in 2003 while on route to court to face charges over a £1.25 million security van theft.

His alleged accomplice Clifford Hobbs was arrested in Malaga last year and brought back to the UK by Scotland Yard.

Others are James Tomkins, who is wanted in connection with the murder of Rocky Dawson, shot dead in front of his two children in Hornchurch, Essex in 2006. Described as a stocky Cockney, he has scars by his left eye and neck, and uses the alias "Jimbles".

Scott Coleman, 33, fled while awaiting trial in Scotland for possessing with intent to supply almost 3kg of heroin. He has a tattoo of a bulldog on his back, the Liverpool FC crest on his right leg and lips tattoo-ed on his buttocks. He has links to Benidorm.

David Andrews, 66, is accused of running a drugs ring at Heathrow airport, and is accused ot materminding imports of cocaine from South America from 2000-2003.

Police are also interested in speaking to suspected Derbyshire armed robber Daniel Johnston.

Allan Foster, 31; John Barton, 52, John Barker, 50 and Keith Burke, who has swallow tattoos on his neck, are also wanted in connection with drug smuggling charges.

Details of all 9 men will be posted by Crimestoppers on a “most wanted” website targeting the region.

The Spanish coastal resorts have been dubbed the “Costa del Crime” since the 1970s because hundreds of wanted British criminals are thought to have fled there.

The Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and the Spanish police authorities are also involved in the move, codenamed Operation Captura.

A first wave of appeals, launched in October 2006, led to the arrest of five suspects. A further three arrests were made in December 2006.

Bill Hughes, of Soca, said police hope to repeat the successes of their first appeals.

He said: “British crooks who thought they could enjoy a ’yachts and villas’ lifestyle in Spain have received a nasty shock.

“Many of them are now experiencing a rather different lifestyle at Her Majesty’s pleasure.

“Soca has worked with Crimestoppers and the Spanish to bring these criminals to justice but we couldn’t have done it without the help of the public.”

Dave Cording, of Crimestoppers, said: “Once the photograph of the criminal is posted on our website they have nowhere to hide.

“Our service has been helping to find criminals and solve crime for twenty years. It’s a system that works for everyone except criminals.”

Anyone with information about those named by Crimestoppers should call 0800 555 111 in the UK or 900 555 111 in Spain.

:: Details of the wanted men will be posted on www.crimestoppers-uk.org

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