A FATHER who sparked a nationwide manhunt when he disappeared with his daughters after a family row is being held in hospital.

Peter Elgey was declared medically unfit to be interviewed by police who arrested him at the end of a ten hour search at the weekend.

The 47-year-old was taken to a County Durham hospital yesterday where he will undergo a mental health assessment.

Mr Elgey was arrested on Sunday night after a frantic search for him and his daughters- Roseanne, 13, and Marie, 16.

His wife Edith alerted police when her husband drove off from the family home, in St Paul's Gardens, Spennymoor, in the early hours of Sunday.

She told police the couple had rowed the previous night about plans to take the children on a summer holiday.

Mrs Elgey also revealed that knives and a spade were missing from the house and that her husband had suffered paranoia.

Durham Police made a public appeal for help to trace the trio stating they were 'very concerned' about their welfare.

Police from North Yorkshire found the former factory worker in a telephone kiosk, in Helmsley, where he was speaking to an officer from Durham Constabulary.

Mr Elgey had already contacted his wife and police in County Durham were able to keep him on the line while the call was traced.

He was arrested on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon and taken to Northallerton police station before being transferred to Bishop Auckland.

Roseanne and Marie, who has cerebral palsy, were found safe and well nearby and were reunited with their mother on Sunday night.