POLICE have arrested a man on suspicion of rape and two women on suspicion of assisting an offender.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed today that a 25-year-old man from York was arrested in Sunderland on Thursday on suspicion of rape and will now be subject to prison recall.

A 39-year-old woman from the Stockton-on-Tees area was also arrested, and last night a police operation in Middleton St George resulted in the arrest of a 51-year-old woman.

The two women were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and both remain in custody at this time.