A MAN has been arrested in Greece in connection with the death of a North-East father-of-two.

The family of Joe Arthur expressed relief after detectives told them a 38-year-old suspect was being questioned.

The South African man, who is believed to have lived in Corfu for the past six years, is being questioned over the death of Mr Arthur, 34, from Gartland Road, Grindon, Sunderland.

He died after he was attacked outside a bar in the holiday resort of Sidari.

Mr Arthur's sister, Tracy, 42, said: "We do not know much at this stage, but just knowing that someone has been arrested is a huge step in the right direction.

"For a while there, we thought nothing was ever going to happen. Maybe this arrest means we are near to the beginning of the end."

The unemployed labourer and his partner, Leigh-Anne Bennett, 31, were on holiday with their two children, Mollie, eight, and Rhys, six, in Corfu.

Four days into the break, Mr Arthur was assaulted after he became separated from his family outside a bar.

He was taken to a local medical centre and received treatment for a 2in cut to his head, then released.

But he became ill during the night and was taken to hospital.

Four days later, on October 2, Mr Arthur died in Corfu Hospital with sister Tracy at his side.

She said: "My parents were just so relieved when I rang them and told them that there had been an arrest.

"This has been a hard Christmas but, hopefully, the new year will bring more answers."