A Canadian paedophile suspect who sparked a global manhunt has been arrested in Thailand.

Christopher Paul Neil, a 32-year-old teacher, was detained in the north-east of the country, suspected of abusing boys in 200 online images.

Interpol had appealed for help after experts unscrambled digitally-distorted internet photos of the suspect.

He arrived in Thailand last week from South Korea, where he had been working as an English teacher.

International police agency Interpol sparked a worldwide manhunt when they launched their first global appeal to the public for information on the suspected paedophile.

The Thai courts issued an arrest warrant on Thursday after a 17-year-old Thai youth told the authorities the suspect had sexually molested him several years ago.

Mr Neil was picked up by officers on Friday morning in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, 250 km (150 miles) north-east of the capital, Bangkok.

He was later taken to a Bangkok police station for questioning.

"The fact that we went to the public was the breakthrough," Interpol detective Mick Moran told AFP news agency.

"We are absolutely delighted that this guy has been arrested."

The arrest follows lengthy efforts to identify a man seen in more than 200 online images of alleged sexual abuse involving young boys.

The man's face had been digitally scrambled, but Interpol used software to create a usable image of their suspect.