ENTREPRENEUR Duncan Bannatyne has used Twitter to comment on a police investigation into a possible sighting of one of the world's most wanted terrorist suspects at one of his hotels.

A woman said to resemble Samantha Lewthwaite, also known as Sherafiyah Lewthwaite or the White Widow, checked into Bannatyne's Hotel, in Darlington, on Boxing Day.

The Northern Echo was first to break the story, which has been widely reported by various media outlets.

The Northern Echo:

On his Twitter account, Mr Bannatyne, pictured above, said the 'lady in question checked out on Boxing Day and police have her car registration and our CCTV'.

Read Mr Bannatyne's other Twitter comments on the matter here.

Police have today remained tight-lipped on the investigation, which was confirmed on Monday afternoon.

Lewthwaite, a 32-year-old British citizen, who has been linked to 7/7 London bomber Germaine Lindsay, is wanted by authorities in Kenya, in connection with allegations of possessing explosives and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Reports in a national newspaper last year said Lewthwaite – who remains at large and has used the alias Natalie Webb – is responsible for the deaths of 400 people.

The Northern Echo: Maxine’s Restaurant, Bannatyne’s Hotel, Southend Avenue, Darlington, County Durham DL3 7HZ

Bannatyne's Hotel in Darlington

She is the subject of an Interpol 'red notice', although it remains to be seen how seriously this possible sighting in Darlington is being taken.

A Durham Police spokeswoman said yesterday: "Police received a report that a woman said to resemble Samantha Lewthwaite, aka The White Widow, had checked into Bannatyne's Hotel, Darlington, on Boxing Day.

The Northern Echo: June 28, 08:10:44: Shahzad Tanweer, Germaine Lindsay and Mohammed Sidique Khan enter Luton station

Germaine Lindsay, centre, in CCTV footage released by the Met Police after the London bombings

"Inquiries are currently taking place in relation to the report."

A spokeswoman for the hotel, in Southend Avenue, declined to comment.