Man held as woman doused with petrol and set alight dies of injuries

A 50-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman who was doused with petrol and set alight died of her injuries.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said armed officers made the arrest after an off-duty officer spotted the man getting off a train at Marple railway station.

Police had previously issued an appeal to trace Stephen Archer, 50, in connection with the incident.

Since the appeal, the 49-year-old victim - reported to be Mr Archer's sister, has died and a murder investigation has been launched.

The victim who suffered 70% burns to her body was taken to hospital via air ambulance on Monday.

Police had been called to reports that a man had deliberately set fire to a woman at an address on Surbiton Road in Newton Heath, Manchester, shortly before 9.45am.

A 19-year-old woman escaped uninjured from an upstairs window of the house, with help from neighbours, said police.

A post mortem examination is expected to take place later to establish the cause of death.

The man is in custody and is being interviewed by detectives.

Superintendent Arif Nawaz from GMP's North Manchester Division said: "Our thoughts remain with this woman's family as they come to terms with the worst possible news.

"Our specialist support officers are continuing to support them at this dreadful time. As a result of this tragic development, the investigation team have now launched a murder inquiry.

"At this stage I would also like to thank the public for their continued support throughout this difficult and protracted investigation.

"We always aim to bring an incident like this to a safe conclusion and I am pleased to say that, as a result of the quick actions of an off-duty officer plus the professionalism of our armed officers, we have now resolved what could have been an even more serious situation.

"However, the fact we have made an arrest does not mean the investigation ends here - far from it."