Third and final Beechworth prison escapee caught in Ballarat

The third and final escapee from the Beechworth minimum security prison in regional Victoria has been recaptured.

Thomas Smith, 27, was arrested at 7.30am today in Ballarat after spending nine days on the run, police say.

Smith was one of three men, alongside Billy Sperling, 25, and Geoffrey Pennell, 34, to escape from a window at the minimum-security facility on July 26.