First picture of gold Volvo getaway car used to spring murderer Shaun Walmsley from prison guards

THIS is the gold getaway car in which "untouchable" ganglang murderer Shaun Walmsley escaped from prison, say police.

Detectives believe the gold Volvo lay in wait in a hospital car park for 90 minutes to spring drugs kingpin Shaun Walmsley, who is serving a minimum 30 years for a drug-related hit.

Sources said men armed with a gun, knife and pepper spray leapt out and held up guards before Walmsley, 28, made his escape in a gold Volvo.

Police have now revealed armed gang had been lying in wait outside the hospital for 90 minutes before the ambush.

They said the getaway car was parked close to the hospital with at least one man inside from about midday.

It then made its way to Aintree University Hospital where it was seen parked from around 1.25pm.

It lay in wait until just after 3pm when the killer escaped from custody.

The car was found in the Adlam Crescent area at 8pm last night and will be subject of forensic examination.

Cops and Prison Service chiefs have launched an urgent investigation into the ambush in Liverpool.

A source said: "The cab was just leaving the hospital site when it happened.

"The officers involved are hugely shaken up but fortunately not hurt.

"There will be serious questions to answer about why a convicted murderer was travelling in a minicab in the first place."

Merseyside Police appealed for witnesses to the incident, which took place outside Aintree University Hospital, Fazakerley, Liverpool, at 3pm yesterday.

But they warned the public not to approach the "dangerous" crime boss, who was only two years into his sentence at nearby HMP Liverpool.

Walmsley, from Walton, had only been jailed for life in June 2015 for the murder of drugs rival Anthony Duffy, 33.

Duffy had plotted to steal a £60,000 cannabis crop from Walmsley and his partner Christopher Kenny, also now 28, whose drugs empire stretched from Merseyside to Dover and Aberdeen.

But the pair were tipped off and had their revenge.

They lured him to an ambush where Duffy was stabbed and slashed 28 times with a 10ins carving knife and died later in hospital.

Walmsley and Kenny planned to flee to Amsterdam after the murder but were arrested soon after when other gang members tipped off cops.

Both men got a minimum of 30 years, while two other men, John Hore, now 56, and Kirk Mello, now 23, got minimum life terms of 21 and 22 years.

Kenny and Walmsley lost appeals last year.

During that hearing, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave told the court the pair saw themselves as "untouchables".

Detective Superintendent Natalie Perischine, said: ""Walmsely is a highly dangerous individual, who was convicted of a vicious and savage murder of 33-year-old Anthony Duffy, who was stabbed multiple times during the attack which robbed him of his life in 2014.

"He took the life of this young man in a frenzied attack and in doing so ruined the lives of his victim's family and friends."

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "A prisoner from HMP Liverpool has escaped while on an escorted hospital visit on Tuesday 21 February.

"The offender involved is described as dangerous and police are advising the public not to approach him.

"We are working closely with the police and are urgently investigating the matter.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."