One of Britain's most wanted criminals has been arrested in Tenerife after six years ago on the run.

Mohammed Alam, 33, was caught by Spanish police on Monday at a restaurant in Playa de las Americas, a holiday resort in the south west of the Canary island.

Despite fleeing the UK before his trial, he was sentenced to 14 years in jail in March 2010 in his absence for raping a woman in Cheltenham.

Extradition proceedings are due to begin at the Spanish national court in Madrid on Wednesday.

The Bangladeshi national was featured in the Operation Captura - a notorious fugitive campaign run by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Crimestoppers.

Detective Sergeant Paul Howell, of Gloucestershire police, said: "We hope this result shows criminals that they will be convicted even if they try to get away and escape under the radar."

It follows the arrest of suspected paedophile Matthew Sammon, another on the most wanted list, who was captured in Fuengirola in the Costa del Sol last Thursday.

Steve Reynolds, NCA Head of International Operations, said: "Locating and arresting Alam after he had been on the run for six years is a fantastic result.

"This was a team effort to get justice for his victim and he will now be returned to the UK to serve a 14-year jail term."