Escaped inmate surrenders to police

An inmate who escaped Hobart's Risdon Prison has surrendered to police after reports he had taken a child hostage while armed with a knife.

The man was on a boat near Geilston Bay when police surrounded him, ABC reports.

The child was reportedly released unharmed.

A Tasmania Police spokeswoman confirmed the man, who escaped from the minimum security unit at 8.30am this morning, had been arrested.

She said the police were not able to confirm any other details at this stage.

The man, who was described as having short dark hair and a rats tail, escaped at around 8.30am this morning wearing brown cargo pants and an orange high visibility top.

Tasmania Police established roadblocks on East Derwent Highway, Grasstree Hill Road, and Sugarloaf Road among others as they searched for the man.