DETECTIVES from North Yorkshire who tracked down a convicted murderer to London have released video footage of his arrest.

North Yorkshire Police launched a manhunt for William Kerr, 53, after he absconded from court-approved premises near Selby in March.

Kerr was jailed for life for murder at Leeds Crown Court in June 1998, and released on licence on January 23, but disappeared for almost a month, leading to a £5,000 reward offered for information which led to his capture, and a television appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch.

Detective Inspector Eamonn Clarke appeared on the BBC show on April 23, and urged the public to get in touch if they had seen Kerr - which led to a tip-off that saw Kerr arrested less than 24 hours after the show was broadcast.

In an interview given directly after the arrest, Det Insp Clarke, said: "The Crimewatch appeal has been our biggest success to date in relation to this investigation.

"Without that information last night, we wouldn't have known where he was and with the public's help, we have helped trace a dangerous offender. Nothing more than that, he's a dangerous offender."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "The information we received following the Crimewatch appeal was crucial to help us track William Kerr to a specific part of London and arrest him.

"We are hugely grateful to people who come forward and provide information to the police. Any detail, no matter how small, could be the vital piece of the jigsaw that helps us arrest a wanted person or solve a crime."