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A gang of 12 prisoners escaped jail in Alabama after using peanut butter to confuse a new guard.

The mass prison break happened at Walker County Jail on Sunday.

Sheriff James Underwood confirmed 12 men aged 18 to 30-years-old managed to escape.

He said peanut butter from their prison sandwiches was smeared over the numbers on doors within the jail.

The group then persuaded a rookie guard to open an external door from his control room.

He was communicating with them via camera and mistakenly believed he was opening a door to their cell rooms.

(Image: Walker County Sheriff's Office) (Image: Walker County Sheriff's Office) (Image: Walker County Sheriff's Office) (Image: Walker County Sheriff's Office) (Image: Walker County Sheriff's Office) (Image: Walker County Sheriff's Office)

Sheriff Underwood said: "'Changing numbers on doors with peanut butter - it may sound crazy, but these kinds of people are crazy like a fox."

"He thought he was opening the cell door for this man to go in his cell, but in fact he opened up the outside door."

The prisoners had managed to run to the perimeter and scale a fence within minutes.

Eleven of the 12 were found in a matter of hours after local police launched a large-scale operation.

Nearby residents were warned to stay in their homes and report anything suspicious.

(Image: Walker County Sheriff's Office) (Image: Walker County Sheriff's Office) (Image: Walker County Sheriff's Office) (Image: Walker County Sheriff's Office) (Image: Walker County Sheriff's Office) (Image: Walker County Sheriff's Office)

Those on the run had been jailed for serious charges such as attempted murder.

Brady Kilpatrick, 24, remains on the loose.

He was jailed on drugs charges.

"Escapes happen," Sheriff Underwood said.

(Image: Google)

"We've got some evil people down here, and they scheme all the time to con us and our employees at the jail.

"You've got to stay on your toes.

"This is one time we slipped up. I'm not going to make any excuses."

The full list of escapees who were recaptured includes: