A suspect in a multiple murder investigation launched after eight members of a family were killed in a house fire over a decade ago has been arrested.

Shahid Mohammed, 32, was detained after three generations of the same family died in the blaze in Birkby, Huddersfield, in May 2002.

Five children and three adults from the Chisti family died in the fire and one man was convicted of murder and two of manslaughter following the attack.

But Mohammed failed to answer bail and has been sought by police ever since, with numerous appeals made for his whereabouts. Reports say he has been arrested in Pakistan.

Police said his re-arrest came after close work between authorities in the UK and those abroad and they are working on bringing him back to this country.

Detective Superintendent Lisa Griffin, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "We have informed members of the Chisti family of the latest development in the case, and will continue to keep them informed throughout.

"Operation Elvington has clearly been a major and long-running inquiry and I thank residents who have come forward with information over the years for their support.

"We remain utterly focused on working with the UK Foreign Office and authorities in the nation in which the 32-year-old is currently being held to bring him back to the UK to be put before a court."

The fire killed Nafeesa Aziz, 35, and her daughters Tayyaba Bootall, three, Rabiah Bootall, 10, Ateeqa Nawaz, five, Aneesa Nawaz, two, and Najeebah Nawaz, six months.

Miss Aziz's brother, Mohammed Ateeq-ur-Rehman, 18, also died in the fire, and their mother, Zaib-un-Nisa, 54, died a week later in hospital.

In July 2003, three Huddersfield men - Shaied Iqbal, Shakiel Shazad Amir and Nazar Hussain - were convicted for their part in the crime.