£10,000 reward for 'most wanted' gunman as armoured cars beef up huge police hunt

As Raoul Moat continued to evade capture last night, police sharp shooters and a fleet of armoured off-road cars were drafted into the hunt for the former nightclub bouncer.

Earlier in the day, detectives revealed they had found Moat's tent, along with a letter addressed to his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart, near to Rothbury, in Northumberland.

Moat went on the run after karate instructor Chris Brown, 29, was shot dead in Gateshead, in the early hours of Saturday.

The fatal shooting, in which 22-year-old Miss Stobbart suffered critical injuries, sparked a huge manhunt as Moat declared war on police.

Pc David Rathband, 42, was shot early on Sunday in an "unprovoked attack" while sitting in a patrol car in Newcastle.

Speaking at a Press conference yesterday, Det Chief Supt Neil Adamson made another direct appeal to Moat, saying: "I've said it before and I will say it again, we want to apprehend you safely. Please give yourself up."

Mr Adamson said he had a "gut feeling" that 37-year-old Moat was still on the run near Rothbury armed with one or two weapons and ammunition.

He said investigators believe others have helped Moat to evade police as the gunman travelled around Northumberland.

It is thought that a man led from woods last night is an associate of Moat's who is helping police identify areas where he may have been hiding out. The man is not thought to be under arrest.

Meanwhile, Scotland Yard said it was sending 40 specialist firearms officers to help the search, while the Police Service of Northern Ireland delivered 20 armoured cars.