Prison officer left a door open behind him, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

And last night a Prison Service insider said: "The sole officer on duty opened the door and was confronted with a flood of water.

"While he was trying to locate the source of the flood, the two trainees rushed out...'' Staff shortage blamed for teens' jailbreak And he revealed a CCTV system -- which could have helped prevent the escape from the facility -- was not monitored because of staff shortages.

The two were chased by Police after an off-duty Police officer spotted the two running along Ferry Road, St. George's in Co-Ed uniform and called headquarters.

Police officers closed in after another off-duty Policeman driving a taxi clocked them on Hamilton Parish's Wilkinson Avenue after they fled on a bike.

He followed the pair, while radioing in directions to taxi controllers who passed the information on to Police patrol cars.

The early Wednesday morning break attempt from the St. George's Co-ed building ended for one of the teenagers -- who has not been named -- when the pair was cornered on Harrington Sound Road at its junction with Middle Road.

A Police spokesman said: "One was caught and promptly arrested -- the other, however, remains at large.'' Now Police have appealed for help in tracing the runner still free -- Jamal Nesbitt, believed to be aged 15.

Last night Prison Officers' Association chairman Lynn Hall agreed only one officer was available for night shift duty in the Co-ed Facility, which houses young male and female offenders.

He added: "If it wasn't for manning shortages, we'd have enough people to work nights -- and we've been saying for some time the CCTV system needs to be monitored 24 hours a day.'' It is understood the two escaped by ripping out wall panels and smashing plumbing pipes -- then they made it to an outside wall, climbed it and ran off.

Nesbitt is described as brown-skinned with reddish brown hair and of medium build.

It is believed he has now dumped the distinctive Co-ed uniform and is dressed in ordinary clothing.

Anyone with information which can help trace Nesbitt should contact Hamilton Police Station on 295-0011.

Prison Officers are currently at loggerheads with Government over manning levels in the Service -- which has led to industrial action.