A YORK man was arrested on suspicion of child abduction at a UK airport.

The 34-year-old man, from York, was arrested at Luton airport after reports to York CID by a local woman who claimed her husband had taken her two-year-old son.

She told police she believed the man was intending to leave the country and officers from North Yorkshire Police alerted other forces.

Following a swoop on Luton Airport by officers from the UK Border Agency on Saturday, the child was found safe and well, already seated on a plane which was about to leave the country.

The man was arrested at the scene by officers from the UK Border Agency then returned to North Yorkshire Police for questioning by the Major Crime and Protecting Vulnerable Persons Units.

Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, of North Yorkshire Police, praised the actions of his colleagues, and the work of the other agencies involved in the operation.

He said: “North Yorkshire Police is extremely grateful to our partners at the UK Border Agency and the other law enforcement agencies at the airport for their swift and effective response. I would also like to thank all the staff from North Yorkshire Police who were involved in this fast-moving incident.”

The child was reunited with his mother over the weekend. The man remains in police custody.