A MAN suspected of driving a car involved in the hit-and-run killing of six-year-old North-East girl Leonie Shaw was being questioned by detectives last night.

Handcuffed and flanked by two police officers, Colin Meekwas arrested in a morning police raid on Teesside and taken back to Bishop Auckland, in County Durham.

Meek, head bowed, was escorted to a van which took him to Bishop Auckland police station for questioning in connection with the tragedy.

His partner, 21-year-old Emma Jane Lee, was led to an unmarked car which also took her back to be quizzed by police over the accident, which happened in Bishop Auckland.

The pair, who have been missing since Saturday's tragedy, were arrested at a house in Middlesbrough yesterday after a member of the public called the town's police station.

Officers across Durham and Cleveland had mounted a manhunt for the couple following the incident, in which Leonie was left dying in front of a group of her horrified friends.

Detectives concentrated their efforts on Teesside after a turquoise Rover 827si car was found there at lunchtime on Monday. They swooped to arrest the couple at 10am yesterday.

A couple of hours later, the pair, both wearing jeans, emerged from Middlesbrough police station.

It is understood that Ms Lee's two-year-old daughter was not present at the time of the arrests.

Police believe that a child of the same age was in the car which hit Leonie as she crossed the road to buy sweets.

Meek and Ms Lee, from Salvin Street, Spennymoor, County Durham, were expected to remain at Bishop Auckland overnight.

Although it is understood that the police are treating Leonie's death as a tragic accident, they will want to know why the driver who hit her on the Bishop Auckland bypass got out of his car, but did not stay to try to help the child.

Leonie, of St Cuthbert's Walk, Bishop Auckland, died in Bishop Auckland General Hospital on Sunday morning with her mother, Michelle Aldworth, at her bed.

Detective Inspector Dave Hammond, who has led the inquiry, said police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the child's death.

Forensic and mechanical tests were being carried out on the Rover yesterday.

Leonie's distraught mother, who has two other children, Jade, ten, and Emily, three, was too upset to talk yesterday, but has asked police to thank people for their messages of support.

A police spokesman said: "We have been specifically asked by Leonie's mother, Michelle, to say a special thank you to the scores of people who have offered messages of support and sympathy in the wake of the tragedy.

"Michelle is currently being comforted by close relatives and is not receiving visitors."

Last night, community leaders in Bishop Auckland and Spennymoor appealed for calm in the wake of the tragedy.

Councillor Alex Clements, chairman of governors at Leonie's school, St Andrew's Primary, in South Church, said: "I hope people respect Leonie's memory and leave the police to get on with their job.

"I knowthe death of a six-year-old child is emotional, but nobody has suggested this was anything other than a tragic accident.

"I just hope that the law is allowed to take its course and Leonie's family are not caused any more grief.