There has been a prison break in north-west Cameroon involving separatist rebels.

Eyewitnesses in Wum, north of the regional capital Bamenda, say the shooting at the town's prison lasted several hours and around 70 prisoners escaped.

The man who instigated the attack was apparently shot and wounded but was taken away by colleagues.

This is the third prison-break in recent months.

For the last two years violence has been escalating in the English speaking north-west and south-west regions of the country with reports of atrocities against civilians being carried out by the Cameroonian military as well as by separatist rebels. (BBC)