WITNESSES told last night how the hunt for Britain's most wanted man came to an end at a petrol filling station.

Mark Hobson, 34, was arrested in a field alongside the A19 in North Yorkshire yesterday afternoon after stopping to buy matches.

The arrest happened only miles from the scene of one of the double murders he was being hunted for.

Armed police were called to the service station at Shipton-by-Beningborough, north of York, by a member of the public who recognised him from media reports.

Motorist Ann Hainsworth told of the moment the filling station owner's wife came running out on to the forecourt and said they had caught the wanted man.

Mrs Hainsworth, who had just pulled up to the garage in a car with her husband, said: "The owner's wife came running out and said 'we've got him, we've got him', so we got out of the car.

"Derek, who was the owner, said 'yes, he came in a few minutes ago to buy some matches and something else'.

"He recognised him, and as soon as he left he rang the police and we saw the police arriving."

Mrs Hainsworth witnessed the moment of the arrest and said she saw "a guy behind one of the buildings there on the floor, surrounded by police".

She confirmed that Derek North, who owns the garage JD North where Hobson bought some goods, had called the police.

Mrs Hainsworth's husband Trevor said: "We went into the filling station and four police vehicles pulled up.

"Mrs North came out and said 'We have caught him, we have got him'.

"Derek then came outside and I said 'What's happening?'' and he said, 'We have got him'.

"Derek told me that he recognised Hobson straight away."

Mr Hainsworth went on: "Police wanted to clear the forecourt straight away and so we went off and that was it.

"It is quite lucky that Derek was not there on his own. He is not young."

Mrs Hainsworth said she comforted Mr North, who is in his 70s, and gave him a hug.

"I put my arms around him and said 'Derek, this is awful' but he seemed quite unfazed and seemed fine.

"I said 'did you recognise him straight away?' and he said 'oh yes, absolutely'."

Hobson was said to have not put up a struggle, and calmly confirmed who he was when he was arrested.

Witnesses said the father-of-one had been seen loitering in the village earlier this week and believed he may have been hiding out in a shed or outbuildings close to the petrol station.

Eric Roberts, 57, said: ''I was going to the post office on Wednesday at around 7am when I saw this guy in Army fatigues. He had short, cropped hair and was unshaven. I remember thinking at the time maybe it was him, but thought no one would be stupid enough to use a shop in those circumstances.

''He looked like he had been sleeping rough.

"I know other people in the village had also spoken about seeing a man hanging around the place.''