"HE'S here - they've caught him."

These were the frantic words from the owner of Oakdale Upholstery, who had just witnessed the arrest of Mark Hobson.

Robin Wilson, who runs the store in Shipton-by-Beningbrough, on the A19, near York, rang the Evening Press newsroom to tell of the dramatic finale to one of the country's biggest manhunts.

Reporter Matthew Woodcock and photographer Mike Tipping were the first journalists to arrive on the scene, as dozens of armed police sealed off the road and restrained Hobson in fields behind his shop.

The normally tranquil village had been transformed into a blur of flashing blue lights and fluorescent police jackets.

There was a flurry of activity outside the furniture store and North's Garage, where owner Derek North had first reported Hobson's whereabouts.

He recognised him from pictures released by police when Hobson had walked in to buy matches.

Friends of Mr North said he had recognised Hobson immediately, despite him looking sleep-deprived and dishevelled.

Witnesses - including Mr North and Mr Wilson - were ushered into the garage until Hobson was taken away in a huge police van with blacked-out windows.

Sunday drivers out enjoying the countryside pulled up and stared in disbelief at the commotion.

A 30-year-old woman from Easingwold had driven past the garage and witnessed two armed officers running through fields.

Within 30 minutes the Evening Press had been joined by countless national newspaper reporters, and several TV and radio crews.

Updated: 07:45 Monday, July 26, 2004