POLICE have issued an appeal to find a man charged with riot and arson.

Officers say Benjamin Rankin has links to Weston-super-Mare.

Anyone who sees Rankin is warned not to approach him but to call 999 immediately giving the reference number 5221117886.

He failed to turn up at Bristol Magistrates' Court on May 28 to face charges of riot and arson

A court warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest.

The charges relate to the violence which broke out in the vicinity of Bridewell Police Station, in Bristol city centre, on Sunday, March 21 this year.

Rankin, 40, is white, about 6ft 4ins tall, of slim build with short brown curly hair.

He has links to Bristol city centre as well as the Bedminster and St Werburghs areas and Weston-super-Mare.

If you know where he might be, call 101 quoting the above reference.