Murder suspect Mark Hobson was discharged from hospital early today to be quizzed by police about the double murders of twin sisters and an elderly couple.

Hobson was being escorted to Harrogate police station for questioning by murder squad detectives, having been treated for dehydration and minor abrasions.

The 34-year-old, who is wanted for questioning in connection with the murders of pensioners James and Joan Britton and twins Claire and Diane Sanderson, spent last night in a ''comfortable'' condition at Harrogate District Hospital.

The former binman and father of one was captured by police on Sunday after he was spotted buying matches, water and cigarette papers by elderly garage owner Derrick North.

Hundreds of police across Britain had been looking for Hobson for a week following the discovery of the bodies of the twins and the elderly couple within 25 miles of each other in North Yorkshire.

Last night, a Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust spokeswoman confirmed Hobson was making ''progress'' but refused to answer a series of questions about the conditions he was being kept in - including whether he was handcuffed to his bed.

Hobson was arrested after he was recognised by Mr North when he came into his garage on Sunday afternoon.

The garage near the village of Shipton is just a few miles from the house in Strensall, near York, where James Britton, 80, and his 82-year-old wife Joan were found beaten and murdered a week before.

The grim discovery came just hours after twins Claire and Diane Sanderson, 27, were found dead at Hobson's flat in the village of Camblesforth, near Selby.

Police later revealed Claire had been murdered a number of days before her sister. Both women were naked and tests showed Diane had been sexually interfered with.

Despite hundreds of sightings of Hobson, there had been no positive lead about where he was for a week.